Thanks everyone for your words of support. Thanks, Brian, for the offer of literature, banners, etc.
Last night I discussed my idea with the woman that runs the relay and she was very enthusiastic. I will get more information when the planning for next year's event begins.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE SOME THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EVENT.
It was a beautiful weekend for the relay, this year. The weather couldn't have been better. The event started off with each of the attending survivors going up the the microphone and announcing their name, town, time period of survival and if they wanted, their type of cancer. Yours truly, not being too bashful, was one of the first to get to the mike. Of the maybe fifty to seventy five survivors in attendance, I think I was the only oral cancer survivor there. The time frames spanned from my 2.5 months to well over 15 years.
As the survivors walked the first lap in one direction (wearing our special purple shirts), the caregivers walked in the opposite direction and we met half way around the track in a very emotional joining together of the two groups. My wife Marilyn, my children and grandchildren were there and we then all walked together.
Skipping to the evening, there is a very emotional ceremony that takes place every year. The inside of the track is lined with "luminaries"...paper bags with sand, candles and the name of the person being remembered or honored on it. In one set of spectator stands, other luminaries were arranged to spell out the word HOPE and on the opposite side of the track, for the first time, a beautiful power point presentation projected the names of those being honored and remembered, on a big screen.
Several of my patients approached me during the day and evening to tell me that they had seen me, or heard my name and came over to wish me luck. However, the most moving experience I had was when I was walking around the track at night, by myself. My family had all gone home to New Jersey and Marilyn was at our home with one of our grandkids that had slept over. As I was slowly walking, I felt a tap on my shoulder and a stranger seeing my purple survivor t-shirt shirt, just reached out his hand to shake mine. He held it for a moment, nodded to me and continued on his way. No words were needed for me to know what he was thinking. I was truly touched.
Today's Father's Day was a very special one for me, my first since diagnosis. One of the many thoughts that had run through my mind this past April was how this Father's Day was going to be very different than all previous ones.
As I look forward to, and I really do, my 60th birthday in August, I continually think about how truly lucky I am.
I am thankful for this forum and how wonderful a purpose it serves in trying to make life a little easier and better for those that are lucky enough to find it and become part of this family.
Jerry
