It sure feels like it has been a long time since I have written. Actually, it has been. The past few weeks have flown by and I have felt a tugging from my computer to sit down and write. It's good to be back!
It's the fifth Sunday of Lent and a beautiful day as well. Since my last posting, West Hartford has endured two major snowstorms, an ice storm and a lot of rain. Today is quite chilly, but the sun is gorgeous and warm on the face. In a corner near the side entrance of my house that receives a lot of sun, little green stems of my tulips and hyacinth are actually popping up. I mention Lent because it is one of my favorite times of year. A time of spiritual renewal and growth. For the third year in a row, my friend Judy and I have made attending daily Mass a part of our Lenten experience. We meet each other each morning at 6:15 to attend Mass. It is a routine that we both love and a great way to start the day, however 6:15 in the morning is when I usually do my writing - hence the lack of postings!
Since my last post, two more friends of mine have been diagnosed with cancer. Actually, I will say three friends because I feel like I know Patrick Swayze, having loved all of the acting work he has done. That said, I feel that it is important to share with you a project that I am working on: The American Cancer Society's 2008 West Hartford Relay For Life. I am helping on the planning committee to promote the Relay and all of the great work that the ACS does for cancer patients and their families. I am sharing with you the speech that I gave at the Kick Off Party on Feb. 29 to officially begin our Relay efforts. I hope that you will take time to click on the link under "Links I love" at the right of this page and join my team 'Gang Green' or support our efforts. It is such an important cause and one that so many cancer survivors have benefited from.
My name is Kim Green and I am a cancer survivor. A stage 4, metastatic breast cancer survivor, to be exact. I am so happy to be here tonight to talk to you about the Relay For Life. I think I can give you some insight into the life of a cancer survivor and the tremendous impact the Relay and the American Cancer Society can have on a cancer patient.
I was diagnosed in June of 1998 after discovering my own lump while in the shower. I was very diligent about performing monthly self checks because my mother had passed away from cancer - at age 37. I felt a lump that day and thought how odd it was that I hadn't felt it before because it felt quite large. I told myself not to be alarmed - your body can change - after all I was 7 months pregnant. I was also only 34 years old.
I wasted no time getting to the Dr. I asked my ob to feel the lump and assure me that I was just a paranoid pregnant woman. His expression told me that I wasn't paranoid. It was a Friday afternoon and my Dr. got me in as the last patient for a surgeon to see that day. The surgeon aspirated the lump and I waited out the longest weekend of my life. I vacillated between this is nothing, to at one point crawling into my three year old daughters' bed and crying myself to sleep, thinking about my own mother and how afraid she must have been to know that she was going to die and leave her three young daughters without a mother.
The call came on Monday - "Kimberly, you have a malignancy". I would need immediate surgery - I was scheduled for that Thursday.
I have always felt that knowledge is power. We are so lucky to live in an age that information is at our fingertips. I hit the Internet and the first name that came to mind was The American Cancer Society. I pulled up their website and instantly felt some relief. I wasn't alone. There were so many resources available to me: information in the form of written material that would be mailed to me at no charge, people that could answer questions for me over the phone 24 hours a day, online support groups that I could participate in, and support for my family and friends as well.
I had surgery to remove the tumor, but even before all of the pathology reports came back, I went into premature labor. My son Torrie was born 72 hours later after all attempts were made to stall labor. He was small, but very healthy and is now seated right there next to my daughter Tessa and my husband Ken. They are my reason for fighting.
I underwent a bilateral mastectomy, removal of lymph nodes and six months of chemotherapy. It was tough. I lost all of my hair and most of my energy. But then again, the ACS was right there for me. A Reach To Recovery Volunteer contacted me. These are great volunteers that are also cancer survivors. They reach out to newly diagnosed patients and those undergoing treatment to show them the ropes and to help them cope. My volunteer supplied me with a goodie bag of items to aid my recovery: a small pillow to take pressure off of my wounded arm, exercise aids to gain range of motion and volumes of pamphlets to help with eating, nausea and fatigue. They were invaluable materials to me. She was also invaluable because she was able to really identify with me and once again make me feel that I was not alone in this fight.
I recovered well and went on to lead a normal life, taking care of my 2 young kids and of all things training to run a marathon , just to prove to myself that I could. I trained for many months and completed the Walt Disney World marathon in 2001 with Ken and the kids waiting at the finish line. I was feeling so well that I went through the training to become a Reach To Recovery Volunteer myself. The the program I was able to talk to so many women, and hopefully help a few, too.
Then the worst...my cancer had returned, this time invading the lymph nodes in my neck This was devastating to me because I really thought that I had kicked it. Now new,scary words would become part of my vocabulary: metastatic disease, stage 4, pain management. It was a part of the cancer world that I wanted no part of. I didn't want the pain, the fear, the fatigue - heck, I didn't want to lose my hair again! I just wanted to look normal, feel normal, be normal.
Once again, ACS was there for me. My oncology nurse told me about a special evening called 'Look Good, Feel Better' that was going to take place at the cancer center. A group of specially trained volunteers provide their talents to help cancer fighters deal with the ravaging effects that chemotherapy and radiation have on skin and hair. These great people teach cancer patients makeup techniques, scarf tying ideas, skin care for radiated areas and even provide wigs to those who cannot afford one. Skin care and cosmetic companies donate all of the products and makeup artists and hair stylists donate their time and talents. In a very relaxing and positive setting, women are nurtured and are able to have a really good time during the midst of a very difficult time. It is a very popular ACS program and would not be possible without the funds raised from events such as Relay.
Unfortunately, my cancer spread one more time to the lung area and that involved more chemo and radiation, more surgeries and hair loss one more time.
The cancer road is a bumpy one. But it is certainly not a dead end. I have realized that it can actually be made a lot smoother with the help and support of programs and volunteers such as the ones that make up the ACS. The Relay For Life is the signature event that raises awareness and money to make the programs available to cancer patients.
We are here tonight to kick off the planning, organization and fundraising of the West Hartford Relay For Life to be held June 13-14. Each of you that are here tonight are here for very personal reasons. Some of you are here tonight and aren't quite sure why you are here, but know that you want to help. One thing is certain - all of us in some way are affected by cancer in West Hartford. We live in a great town, but that hasn't spared us from this disease. Cancer is rampant in our town. I have spoken to you in the Center at the two stores that I work at. I have heard you speak of yourself, your spouse, your children and your friends that have cancer. I have heard of teachers, local government officials, clergy, medical personnel and business owners that are all engaged in the fight of their lives. We are a prosperous, thriving town, yet this disease is in every corner of it.
What are we supposed to do here tonight? Of course, all of us are here because we want to see a cure for cancer. All of us would like to be a part of the process that makes that happen. Sometimes though, that task can seem so enormous and unattainable that we fall into a position of thinking that our individual effort will not make a difference. But, our individual effort DOES make a difference. Ten years ago when I was diagnosed, 3 of the chemotherapy drugs that I have recently received were not yet available. I have 2 more new drugs now in my arsenal when needed. That is a complete product of fundraising and research. And no one does it better that ACS. Finding a cure for cancer can seem like an enormous goal. Funding a ride for a person to treatment or providing money for a wig can seem easier to accomplish. This Relay is here to provide you the opportunity to do all.
We have an opportunity here in West Hartford to really make a difference. The Relay For Life could become the signature event for our town. Northwest Catholic High School has been so generous to host the Relay. Already businesses in town are donating services, just like Real Art Ways tonight for this facility and The Pond House for the great food and drinks. There is so much work though that we have to do.
Coming from the point of being a person that has lived with and fought cancer for such a long time, I am asking you to step out of your comfort zone - or step out of the box so to speak. Form a team. If you can't form a team - join one. If you can't join a team - offer to support one. My team name is Gang Green and I am actively recruiting new members! If you can't support a team - we would love your help in planning and help on the day of the event. There is a niche for every person, and every ounce of work that is given adds up to our success. And best of all, so many people we know and that are a part of our lives will benefit from your efforts. You, yourself, one day might need the services the ACS provides. Just this week, I received this book from the ACS. They are still fighting for me, that is why I will Relay for them.
My favorite quote is one from Eleanor Roosevelt: We must do the things we think we cannot do. It is so applicable here tonight. We can do anything. Just think, our actions might help to cure cancer.
Ten years ago, on June 8, I found out that I had cancer. To celebrate winning the battle thus far, I am going to walk 10 miles around the track for Relay on June 13. I can't think of a better way of celebrating than spending the evening with a few thousand of my new friends. I hope that you will be there.
Thank you for everything that you are doing and for being here tonight.
God Bless.
KG
