I Choose Hope

Disclaimer: This is long so either A) relax, get a cup of coffee or B) just skip this post.

OK... I have a dear friend L. and she has a very good friend B.

B. is from Brazil and she and I always met up at L. house and all.

Last year, BEFORE I was diagnosed, B. signed up for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Team in Training Nike Marathon in San Francisco, that was going to take place in Oct of 07. I was proud of her, committed to help her with $$$ and cheer and encourage her decision. I HAD NEVER MET ANYONE WITH either LEUKEMIA OR LYMPHOMA.

After I was DX, B. called me to tell me that she was running for me, as an honoree and that my name was going to be on her T Shirt. I felt honored.. but who wants to be on someone T-Shirt because they have cancer , right? ( I am so very honored that have been on that T Shirt and will be forever in dept to B and the thousands of others to help raise $$ and awareness for this BIG NASTY C>)



But the summer kept going.. I follow B. training progress as I got sicker and sicker.

Fast Forward a few months and in October I received B. email saying that she had completed her half marathon and that the experience was incredible ... and in her email, and her pictures.. she mentioned "this woman" that had spoken at her Pre Marathon dinner and that had really made an impression on B.

Now, I am sure we are all the same and when we hear people talk about "this woman". .or "that person".. and you have no real connection to her/him.. seldom "this person " stays in your thoughts.... BUT THIS WOMAN DID.. .I did not know her name .. or nothing but I remember B. mentioned that she also was YOUNG, HEALTHY and HAD BEEN HIT WITH THE BIG C... a very similar kind to the one I had.

Fast Forward another few weeks....

From an article, to someones blog.. to another blog ( or what I now call "Blog Hopping") .. I stumbled into this web blog called I CHOOSE HOPE from a Lovely Young Woman called Amy Bartlet .... GUESS WHAT??????? AMY is THAT WOMAN.....

Amy and I communicate often.. I follow her survivor journey and feel a special connection to her. I know exactly how she felt and I know she knows exactly how I felt THAT DAY . .the day you hear you have the BIG C... the fears.. anxiety... sense of loss...

My journey and Amy's is wickedly similar.. .we are the same age, we were DX just 2 weeks a part and are both , we both had special experiences as we shaved our heads, we have wonderful friends and family and THANKFULLY we are both in remission and have began lives in new lands...

I hope one day we will actually meet in person, and enjoy a Bubbly together... WE HAVE LOADS TO CELEBRATE !!!

So, if you are not doing anything this coming October, Maybe I will see you in San Francisco.. as I am trying to find a way to get there and THANK this people.. .all this people that have so selfishly done something TO SAVE MINE and AMY's LIVES..

A big Kiss to all.. a a special one to B. and Amy..... and I CHOOSE HOPE!!!!!

PS: The Picture up there is Amy during her speech.. the one that B. got inspired and If you want to feel the same please visit I CHOOSE HOPE and watch her speech. Get the tissue box out!!!

BACK OFF CANCER!!!
Big kiss Amy: Happy CANIVERSSARY!!!!