Thursday, September 20, 2007

"Good to go"

I was one of 10 people from the College who was invited to attend a benefit dinner sponsored by YMCA. It's an annual event with the theme Salute to Courage. The young person's name is Taylor who is in remission for cancer. I remember reading about her perhaps last year when she was chosen to be in the Homecoming court at a local high school. She's just a teenager who has learned so much in such a short time. She went to the dance bald, and preferred baldness to wearing a head covering. My kind of person. She had a motto from the first time she learned she had cancer about 1 1/2 years ago: "GOOD TO GO." What a positive saying.

After dinner, they presented a slide show of her and her family/friends. Eventually she spoke. A bright young teenager, a postive role model. I could not resist to go up to her and to hug her. As I approached her, her mother could tell where I was coming from. She immediately hugged me. It was a very emotional evening, but an evening I had wanted to attend since the invitation was offered to me. I then introduced myself to Taylor and we hugged. I felt so honored to be there, and to meet another positive person. We may have cried as we spoke, but heck we've been through a lot. She even asked for my name and email address. I am so looking forward to communicating with her. Tonight she was my angel! Even at 16 years old she knew about neuropathy. A 16 year old should not even be aware of such terms.

We agreed. Cancer sucks..

Hopefully you can use this link to read an article about Taylor:

http://www.news-tribune.net/features/cnhinshealth_story_138110231.html


PS. Blood tests for me today are OK. Just have stopped chemo pills. Neuopathy is still issue with feet and hands.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, Jane, it's good to meet others walking down this path. You, too, are a hero to us. Ann

Anonymous said...

Hi Jane - I'm so glad you got to meet Taylor. I met and spoke with her at the Relay last year. She's an angel .... as you are. Love you! JK

Anonymous said...

Jane, My Aunt was a winner of the Salute to Courage award a few years ago. She developed MS after being a very good marathon runner and mountain climber. That is such an honor for Taylor. I love that "Good to go"! Lisa