Today is World Cancer day and according to wikipedia World Cancer Day is marked on February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. World Cancer Day was founded by the Union For International Cancer Control (UICC) to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008. The primary goal of the World Cancer Day is to significantly reduce illness and death by cancer by 2020. Wow, 2020 is not so far away, is it??
It seems like cancer is everywhere and it is scary. I suppose part of the reason for this is that we are simply growing older and as we get older, sometimes things happen. Things like cancer. My family is pretty sensitive to the topic of cancer. My husband's mom had breast cancer and non-hodgkins lymphoma. She battled with cancer for 10 years before passing away in 1995. My uncle Benny passed away from skin cancer when I was just a little girl. My aunt Gloria passed away from lymphoma several years ago and my husband's uncle Efrom passed away from leukemia. His aunt Dos, Efrom's wife, is a breast cancer survivor!! Cancer rears its ugly head everywhere you look and clearly touches many people in different ways.
Recently we have learned that other people in our lives that are dear to us will be fighting their own battles with cancer too. Our friend Jenn learned in October that she has multiple myeloma. (She has an awesome blog that you should definitely check out...multiplemyelomamom.wordpress.com) We also learned last month that our rabbi will be fighting cancer again after being a breast cancer survivor for 4 years. This time the cancer (triple negative breast cancer) has spread to her hip and spine. She underwent a hip replacement and full pelvic reconstruction a couple of weeks ago and is now in the beginning stages of undergoing chemo treatments.
The news of these two people being diagnosed with these cancers has completely rocked my world. In both cases the initial hurt is that of being a mom. They are both mothers and so am I. It is a hurt that runs so deep that I'm not sure I have the words to truly express it. There are so many edges to this. Having to tell your own children that you're sick and having the uncertainty of your future haunting you. The thought of a life for your children that could possibly not include you is gut wrenching. These things get me right down to more core.
The news of my rabbi particularly hit multiple nerves for me as well as it did for my husband and two boys. Not only do I share in the pain with her as a mom but this woman has been a life changing force in my world. I sincerely have NEVER met anyone like her. To say that she is unique is the understatement of the year. Rabbi Vicki is so much MORE than just our temple's rabbi. She's more than just a spiritual leader. She is an amazing human being with a zest for life that is immeasurable. She genuinely cares about each and every person that crosses her path. Her aura is beautiful and I don't know a single person who comes in contact with her that does not see it too.
I was brought up in a reform Jewish home. Actually reform Judaism is almost a generous description but we'll go with it for now. I always to be a little "more Jewish", if you will. Since I was young I wished for my family to do more in regards to being Jewish. Rabbi Vicki, in just three short years has brought out my Jewish identity in an enormous way. I feel like she was the Jewish gift I'd been looking for, for so long. With Rabbi Vicki it is not just about temple and the holidays. With Rabbi Vicki Judaism is about everything and can be found everywhere!! She has instilled a love of Judaism in me, my husband and both of my boys. They enjoy going to Hebrew school and temple because of her. As my youngest son says "Rabbi Vicki makes learning fun, it's like you're not learning but you really are." He's absolutely right. She's engaging and interesting and fun. Rabbi Vicki has been a friend, a mentor, a spiritual leader and so much more over the past several years. Knowing that she has this battle ahead of her is literally crushing to me. HOWEVER, if anyone could kick cancer's ass...she's DEFINITELY on the list to do it!!! We like to call her the rock star princess cancer warrior!!!!
Rabbi Vicki is a superhero!! Our friend Jenn is also a superhero!! Although I wish that neither one of them had cancer, I am glad that there are superheroes like them in the world. People who are genuinely awesome people because they are so strong, so caring, so kind, so beautiful in many ways and can make a difference in someone's life. I'm glad to know these two superheroes and that they are a part of my life.
As part of our commitment to cancer research and finding a cure my two boys participate in the St. Baldrick's Foundation fundraiser every March. They raise money for research towards ending childhood cancer. They also shave their heads in solidarity. I'm very proud of the commitment the two of them have made to participate in this year after year. This year our involvement in the event will be a little more special and a little more personal. Cancer is cancer and sucks! Hopefully between the fundraising efforts of my family and other families along with superheroes like Rabbi Vicki and Jenn, we can KICK CANCER'S ASS!!!!!!!
St. Baldrick's Fundraiser 2014
The After pic!
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