Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Making Strides


A  joyous survivor
I finished radiation treatment for breast cancer, following two surgeries, three years ago. This year I participated for the first time post-cancer in the Making Strides Against Cancer 5K walk. I walked with two friends, also cancer survivors. They took me to a table where we got bright pink ribbon sashes emblazoned with the word SURVIVOR.
This was unlike any 5K I have walked. There was a suggested start time but you could begin anytime within a four hour window. We were there in the first hour so I did not expect many people. I was wrong. We joined a steady stream of walkers. I planned to do this in a meditative manner. I wanted to think about cancer, what it meant to me, what it taught me, and how it affects me now.

I began to observe my fellow walkers and strike up conversations with them. I also stopped to take photos. As a result I passed the same man three times, learning a bit more about him each time.


He was walking in honor of his sisters, two have passed on and one is a survivor. I was impressed by his thoughtful pace and quiet dignity and his devotion to his sisters. 

It was a beautiful day, sunny after morning showers and in the mid 50's. The walk started downtown went up one side of the river, crossed a bridge, looped through a park, and then wound back down the other side of the river. The last half was mostly on the top of the dike with a stunning view of the city.


I began to pay attention to the tee shirts folks were wearing. Some were funny, some poignant. Here are some examples. A group of folks were sporting this shirt.

Front
Back
I started to photograph the adult in this picture when his son asked to be included. His shirt was covered by his jacket but he eagerly unzipped to show that he too was "Tough Enough to Wear Pink."


I laughed out loud at both of these.



The family groups tugged at my heart. I felt so lonely during my cancer journey as I was going through divorce at the time. 

And then there were these.


It was a good day for me. I'm grateful to be three years out and continue to make life style choices to stay healthy. I honor those who have made the journey before me and wish healing to all those currently on the path.




10 comments:

  1. What a hopeful event for what is often seen as a hopeless situation. This proves it is not always the case. I love that so much humor was evident because I believe humor can, if not cure cancer (and I think it sometimes can,)it can make the Journey a bit, no, a lot more meaningful. Thanks for this uplifting memoir of hope and healing, Jude.

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    1. Thank you Sam for your comment. You are right about the power of humor. Last spring I attended the Erma Bombeck Conference and was so relaxed after three hectic days that should have left me exhausted. The reason? I laughed my way through. It was a joyous experience! At this walk there was plenty of laughter but also some tears, especially from folks walking in memory of someone. Yet even those folks, nursing a loss, expressed their hope for a cure for others. Very uplifting!

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  2. That's lovely, Judy! Congratulations. I, too, am a cancer survivor, and my first walk to raise money and awareness after my own bout was a deeply moving experience for me. But you made yours into something moving for all of us, by observing so much and writing it so well. Thank you!

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    1. Oh Samantha I do appreciate your praise, especially since you too have experienced cancer. Walking as a survivor had a completely different energy than when I was walking to support a cause. It was not so much that it was more personal as it was more real, more urgent. For my part, I am on a mission to help people make the connection between stress, especially trauma related stress, and cancer.

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  3. i honor You, judy & am so happy 2 have made your acquaintance...a beautiful post of courageous people

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    1. Namaste Monica! I am happy to have a friend in Alaska. Blogger only allowed a small number of photos; I have many more. I'm going to print them out and make a collage for healing.

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  4. What a wonderful celebration of life and victory this seems to be for you and many others, Jude. I can picture you walking and talking to all of those whose pictures you've included in this post too! Hugs, my friend.

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    1. Hugs right back! My talking to everyone seems to not surprise anyone who knows me well :>) But I do get to know the most amazing people and learn something from each and every one.

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  5. Congrats on 3 years!! I loved your t-shirt pictures, some of them are a hoot!

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    1. Thanks Susan! I had even more pics but blogspot would only allow so many. I appreciate your comment. Every year out from the diagnosis and treatment feels like a victory.

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