September 26, 2012: Anniversary

One year since my diagnosis was confirmed by Dr. C.  It was a tough day for her and for us, but we are all doing so much better now!  I see a bright future....

September 19, 2012 - Anniversary

One year since my biopsy.

September 16, 2012: Living and supporting the Terry Fox legacy of courage...

Living and supporting the Terry Fox legacy of courage...September 16, 2012

It is mid September with unseasonably warm weather and a welcomed dry spell that has lasted most of August and is forecasted to last the rest of the month!  Mid September is also what I would call Terry Fox season as the main run is scheduled at this time in Canada (and I believe many other places in the world) and school organized runs are scheduled later in the month.  It is truly amazing that one person along with his amazing support team of family and friends have been able to reach into my life and that of so many others in the world in a way that we mark our calendars every year to join in a positive and active way to support the fight against cancer.

I have participated in the Terry Fox run since approximately 1985 when I was first introduced to it by a university and work friend named Dana.  Initially it was a cool thing to do that kept me active.  I have participated in runs at various locations in the Lower Mainland including the home town run in Port Coquitlam, but I now enjoy the yearly run in our community of Port Moody.  The day, for me, has morphed from a chance to be cool and going for a run to taking the opportunity to get my family out for a run/walk, to enjoying the sense of community to now really feeling connected in an intrinsic way to the purpose and meaning behind the cause.  With the road that Mom and I have been on this past year along with my family, friends, neighbors and colleagues, the thoughts and words of courage, determination and hope from Terry Fox now echo in my mind, body and soul.  As I type this entry, I realize that Terry Fox's annual run falls very close to the anniversary of my biopsy and confirmed diagnosis (September 19th and September 26th respectively).  It warms me to know that I have a closer connection to Terry whom I, and so many others, see as a hero from unassuming roots.  I can completely relate to what I think he must have felt bursting through his chest in terms of wanting desperately to make sense of his cancer and wanting make a difference for others even if it was too late for himself.  I can also fully relate to wanting to make a difference as just an ordinary person.  We are all capable of so much, and just need to find ways to tap into our desires and passions.  My wish is that this passion does not always need to come from such painful experiences.

On this gorgeous September morning with the run starting at Rocky Point this year, I have a renewed sense of the purpose for the run, a renewed sense of courage, hope and the love that we should share with each other every day no matter what the circumstances.  During one of our poignant moments on this road (vividly it was the day Todd had to cut all my hair off as it was falling out quicker than my bob cut could keep up with), I reminded Todd that the way he was treating me with such love and kindness was the manner in which we should always treat each other.  I reminded him and myself of this on during this run as I wore the survivor t-shirt that Victoria kindly offered to me and as I looked around at all the people around us supporting the run for hope and supporting their own stories and loved ones.  We always need to be cognizant that we all have our stories, we do not know the difficulties that someone may be going through and cancer is just sometimes more visible than other difficulties.  If we all just take the time to be kind to ourselves and to others, our ability to support, better tolerate, be kind and to love each will be more effortless and turn into so much good.

As there has been so much that has been serendipitous this year, so was my experience during this year's Terry Fox run.  The first was the reminder of how we should treat each other with love and kindness.  The second happened while I was walking with Todd near the beginning of the walk as we were in a pleasant forested part of the route with the sun shining through the trees.  Behind Todd and I, I overheard a mother speaking to her young son about the meaning behind the annual walk/run.   I caught snip-its as they related the event to other similar activities and other people in their lives.  I mainly took notice as the mother was describing meaning behind the colour of the t-shirt I was wearing (red was the colour of the survivor’s t-shirts this year).  As she described the meaning, she relayed that there were others in their family that were surviving cancer as well.  The son seemed to genuinely ask what it might be like for me be to a survivor.  The mother paused and gently suggested that perhaps he may want to give me a hug as a way to show his appreciation and caring.  The boy never did reach out to me and nor I did not turn back during this conversation.  This was the right thing as the discussion was what was important. The interruption with words or actions would have broken what I feel was the magic behind the close moment that the mother was having with her son on that beautiful sunny Sunday morning.  With this simple discussion, my belief reinforced that we should always try to be kind, giving and loving to each other in any way we can in our day-to-day lives.

No matter how "big" the Terry Fox run is or gets, the simple message of hope and continuing on what Terry could not finish will not diminish in my mind.  While I have never met Terry or his family, in my heart I believe we are holding true to his hopes and ideals and that this and other journeys we may be on are not about the individual, but about all of us coming together to do good and to do the right thing.  Great things come from humble beginnings and humble hearts.  Terry Fox lived this and has taught us this.

Jen, it was great meeting you at the run. Todd, thank you for being by my side.