This was my first year participating in the Light the Night Walk, an annual event of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It was humbling to be in the company of so many brave people: survivors of blood cancers, those who have lost loved ones to blood cancers, those who are battling blood cancers today, and their families, their friends, their co-workers.
Beyond all the losses of life, time spent in hospital rooms, missed days of work and adjustments to uncertain outcome was a pervasive sense of happiness, of togetherness. No, the walk wasn't sad, but it was celebratory. For those touched by cancer in whatever way--there is a rawness that opens the lens of reality. It brings a heightened awareness of small pleasures, of the importance of seeing each moment through with as much joy as you can muster.
The crowd this evening was all about life. Our team walked for Ingrid, and it's true that she was an example of living to the fullest. She lived bravely, faced her untimely illness bravely and died bravely. The last time I saw her in her hospital room, Ingrid looked at me and said, "This is it, Susie." It disarmed me completely. She was facing "it" squarely and with the kind of resolute truth and courage that only the bravest person possesses.
Going forward, I've tried to remember that you have to be brave to live life to its fullest. In one way or another, we'll all meet our own day, and when we do, wouldn't it be fine to say we did all we could, all we wanted?
Yes, you have to be brave to live. I give thanks to all those who face such adversity and set a lesson for the rest of us. Is it not better to stop hiding in the nooks and crannies of life and open up to the lovey opportunities before us? There's no one else to do it.
Thank you to those who donated to Team Ingrid. Special love to Ruth and her amazing parents, who must surely be together again.
9 comments:
Beautifully put, dear Susie. We all will reach a time when being brave is all that is left. People like Ingrid and Stephen and so many others, show us how and leave us with the example of how it is done. Loved being with you tonight. - Ginya
That is a good thought for the day indeed - that it takes courage to live. Even when disease strikes, it is important to conquer fear. The balloons and parading are a great way to do that.
Nicely put.
Very beautifully worded to bring out the truth and meaning of what you say. You've reminded me of some brave folks I've known along the way and wish I had spent even more time with. Thanks!
Beautiful. Your words brought tears to my eyes.
How nice! And how lucky Ingrid was to have friends like you.
Sounds like Ingrid was a brave person. Glad she had a friend like you.
Very nicely said.
Thank you, Susie. So true and so heartfelt. RL
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