In honor and memory of Felicia Seery and other childhood cancer friends... I've answered the call to be a hero! I'm having my head shaved to stand in solidarity with kids fighting cancer, but more importantly, to raise money to find cures. Please support me with a donation to the St. Baldrick's Foundation. This volunteer-driven charity funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U. S. government. Your gift will give hope to infants, children, teens and young adults fighting childhood cancers. So when I ask for your support, I'm really asking you to support these kids. Thank you! Click "Make a donation" to give online, or donate by phone or mail.
"Some survivors feel guilty that they survived when so many others did not. Sometimes they feel that life is going to be short, so they must push themselves very hard. Since they feel they don't have much time, they want to squeeze as much in as possible.
The thing that I wrestle with all the time is survivor guilt. When children I know die, I almost can't look their parents in the face. I know in my head that it's not my fault, but it never feels like enough. I feel like saying, "I'm sorry I am here and your daughter is not, I wish to God I could change it." The best that I can do is share something special that I remember. It's a poor comfort, but at least somebody remembers. There is a lot in the storyteller concept. There's a great line in Miss Rose White where she says, "If I forget, who will remember?"
Survivor guilt is a real problem. Often I find myself caught between needing to share my concerns and feeling guilty because I'm alive, I'm doing well, so many aren't. It's a tough line to walk.
One of the hardest things to learn to realize is that we can't change certain things. My life did not come at the expense of anyone else's. If I could do anything to save theirs, I would do so gladly."
This is why I am doing St. Baldrick's this year. Today, March 17th, marks my 8th year of being able to say I am cancer free, but I want to hear everyone say those words. I have met so many amazing people, cancer kids and their families, through having gone through this disease... but it never gets easier hearing about your friends passing away, and so early in their lives where parents are having to plan funerals for their kids instead of birthday parties, helping them pick out prom dresses, teaching them to drive a car, or walking them down the aisle at their wedding. No child or parent should have to go through this. With the St. Baldrick's Foundation, I have started a team in honor of one of the many dear friends who's life had been taken too soon by this disease, called Team Felicia. On June 8th, myself and many others will be shaving their heads to stand in solidarity with kids fighting cancer, but more importantly, to raise money to find cures.
I know we all have busy lives and are just trying to get through another day, but if you could donate anything at all, and share this with your friends and family... I would thank you from the very bottom of my heart... because you could help give a child and their family another day too. <3
