Fuck You Cancer
Yeah, I know, watch my language. But this week has been… shitty. Or at least it ended that way. This past Thursday, my aunt got the worst news a person can get. Before I get to that, let me tell you about my aunt.
My aunt is…
a retired educator. She was a teacher and a counselor at a private K-12 school for a great number of years. She touched many lives for the better in all of her years of service. Towards the end of her career she worked with special needs children (autism, etc…) to help them excel in learning and being able to enjoy school life just as every other child is able to
My aunt is…
one of the greatest women I know. From the time I was 5 years old, she and my mom raised my 2 brothers and I. While we may have butt heads through the years, she has always been there when I needed her.
My aunt is…
one of the strongest women I know. For the last few years of my grandmother’s life, she took care of her. She was there through the good times and she was there through the dementia. She held through it all with the anticipation of moving my grandmother up to Idaho to live with her and my mom after she retired. She powered through when that didn’t happen and my grandmother passed away.
My aunt is…
the last person on earth that deserves this. But unfortunately, the world isn’t fair and sometimes life just sucks. In July of this year, my aunt was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.
My aunt is…
going to die. Of course we all will one day, but most of us expect that to be years (or decades) from now. On Thursday, the results of my aunt’s latest PET scan showed the cancer had spread to multiple organs and to her bones.
Game over.
In just 4 months time, Cancer single handily sucker punched her and then followed up with an uppercut.
The doctors give her less than 6 months.
Less than 6 months.
I am…
Crushed. Devastated. Emotionally wrecked.
But this isn’t about me. This isn’t about cancer. This is about a person I love suffering through something that no one should have to endure. Something that deserves to be wiped off the face of this planet. My aunt did regular screenings (as all women should). Her last mammography was less than a year ago and it was clear. Sometimes cancer is just plain sneaky. But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t test.
Please. Please. Please. If your means allow, donate to Susan G. Komen. They are focused on funding research to ending this disease.
In honor of my aunt, I’m going to run in the Komen run next May. Until then, I’m also looking for ways to help raise both awareness and money to help fight this disease that has taken so many. That is taking yet one more.
Please help me to show that…
My aunt is…
greatly loved and will be forever remembered.
P.S. Have you or someone you know been affected by breast cancer? If so, please share your story in the comments.
P.P.S. I love you Aunt Ruth
