| Something Very Special |
| MY MOM by Joe Mazzella When I was 25 years old, Cancer claimed my mother's life. She had fought a brave fight against it for over 4 years. Although she was in terrible pain at times, she never quit living her life to the fullest. I can still remember her in those last 4 years working at her job with a smile and laugh that were infectious. I can still remember her cooking homemade meals for the family even though she was too sick to eat them. I can still remember her talking openly about her Cancer to all those who asked and even taking her wig off to show her head still bald from the chemotherapy. After she died, I felt like I had lost a large part of myself. Little did I know that our relationship was far from over. As the years went by, I started talking to Mom about all my problems. Even though I never heard her answer I always felt her love and her presence in my heart. Once I told my little girl that her Grandma was still watching over her and could even ride down on the back of a butterfly to see her when she wanted. Well, Mom must have heard me for at that very second a butterfly flew down between us. Since then I seem to attract butterflies whenever I go out in hot weather or cold. I feel closer to my Mom today than I ever have. If I have learned two things from losing my Mom to Cancer, it is these: 1. Cancer can destroy a body but never a spirit. 2. Death can take someone from this world but can never take anyone from our hearts, because love never dies. I love you, Mom. |
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| DON'T SAY NO In 1998, my daughter asked me to walk with her in the annual Komen Race for the Cure (R) in our town. I am not a person who likes to exercise so I gave her an excuse and did not go. Yes, I was a strong supporter of cancer research and yes, I have sent donations to the funds for this. BUT, when it came to the point of actually participating, I was "too busy". I had lost both of my parents as well as several aunts and uncles to cancer. How was I to know that I would be the first in my family of many cancer patients to have breast cancer? I was going on my complacent way thinking, "not me". Then in April of 1999, when I was diagnosed, I was beginning to participate...not as an onlooker but as a patient and in my case, as a survivor. And suddenly the Race for the Cure (R) and active participation was no longer something that happens to others. I was one of them...those people who had met the dragon and now had to cope I am now walking in those shoes that others have worn before me. I know what they think, feel and even fear. I walked in the Race last year and this year am on the committee. I am wearing my shoes with pride as I try to help others to cope. My family is going to do the race this year as a family with a few friends to walk along beside us. We will walk together and cry together and know that I am one of the survivors. I have survived and beat the dragon. Don't wait for cancer or some other dread disease to strike either you or a loved one before you begin to be an active participant in projects that are raising money for research. Try the shoes on ahead of time and pray that you won't need them. Note: This was written in 2000, this year I am again on the Race committee and this time I have the enjoyable task of forming teams for our race. I am still wearing those shoes. Doris |