dear FOT,
in january 2008, my mom was diagnosed with stage III hodgkin's lymphoma. i moved to phoenix with only a suitcase and my car, leaving everything else stored in memphis, and ive been here ever since. although she is currently struggling with damaged lung tissue from the radiation treatments, as of a month ago, she is in remission. woo!
in light of this achievement, i enrolled in RELAY FOR LIFE to show support for my mother, in honor of Anna Ives in Boston, and anybody else who's been a true blue fighter despite the odds.
i will be camping out in a park nestled in the suburbs, walking/running the next day, and supporting all the cancer survivors, their families, and those who continue to struggle with cancer and the treatments every day. we will also be remembering those lost to cancer. on a happier note, we will also be celebrating the achievements of those in remission for one day, one year, or one decade, cancer-free.
i know everyone has been donating money like crazy and the WFMU marathon is on the horizon, not to mention, between layoffs and a recession, there is little, if any, to give. however, i would be a fool for not trying:
Relay for Life.
you can give donations anonymously and i'll be none the wiser. this is all about the giving, the care, and the support for anybody dealing with cancer, directly or indirectly. i consider this a great opportunity and if any FOT have friends, family, etc. who theyve lost or currently battling cancer, i would be happy to honor them here in phoenix.* all in all, the FOT remain a giving group, never tight with the purse strings despite their own circumstances, and insurmountably compassionate- it's never about money, it's about the love.
anyway, here's to moms, dads, brothers, sisters, Annas, friends, and our grandparents who never learned to quit- may we all survive unharmed, but not without a few bad days, tougher than before.
*using the link above, you should reach my relay member page (for 'Leah S Abasolo'). the luminaria option allows you to donate/create an luminaria, which is lit at sunset in vigil to remember our closest friends and family to cancer.