I had spent a good portion of the day at the Relay For Life, sponsored by the American Cancer Society in Palm Desert. It is part of the largest fund raising event in the world. This particular section raised $100,000 dollars. We walked in teams. Our team had two causes contained in its spirit: First, children, because it was started by mothers. Second, bladder cancer, because I am currently fighting the battle and winning. The team leader was my incredible daughter in law, Jessica. The team she started was called “Moms Fighting Back.”
Our team raised a thousand dollars as a team and more monies as individuals. At 9:00am and 8:00pm they had what is called a survivors walk. For me, it has been 3.5 years. Others were recently diagnosed and others have survived more than 25years. The emotions felt by everyone during this event is absolutely incredible. It is people helping people. Each team must have someone on the track during the 24 hour period of the relay.
Our team consisted of mothers and their children, young and old. For me it was my wife Suzie, son Todd, daughter in law Jessica as well as my grandchildren Breezy and Jake. When it was time for the morning survivor lap we walked together, my entire family as my caregivers and myself as the survivor. I walked hand in hand with Suzie. At various times each of my grandchildren held my hand. At other times during the three laps that made a mile, my son and daughter in law were by my side.
During the day I needed to go home and get some rest. I wanted to be able to participate in the evening events. I also wanted to be around to help people that might have questions about bladder cancer. We were very fortunate our booth had more literature than most hospitals regarding all types of cancer, including bladder cancer. The literature and gifts were supplied to us by two organizations. The first was BCAN, The Bladder Cancer Awareness Network. The second was the City of Hope, a National Institute of Cancer Treatment Center. My wife and I are members of BCAN. I receive my treatment from the City of Hope.
We did address issues with people and specifically helped a woman and her husband. The woman was going through testing for bladder cancer. During her walking she stopped by the booth numerous times. Each time we shared more information as she had more questions. I wish that when I was first diagnosed I knew about this incredible event.
I participated with my daughter in law last year. This year she decided to have her own team. I am so proud of her. Now I want to speak about the evening and the emotions that I felt. As I was walking around the park that the event was held at, my wife and I noticed a Holocaust memorial. We went over and walked around it. For the Holocaust, like cancer, had destroyed so much of our family. Just type in the word Skalat in any internet search engine and you will see exactly what I am talking about.
The more we walked around the memorial and read the plaques and read the names, the more I equated the Holocaust to cancer. Then the announcement came for survivors and their caregivers to line up on the track. As we did in the morning, we again assembled in the evening. The lights were dimmed this time and the only light was on an empty table set for dinner in honor of those who have lost the war. The next thing a bagpiper began playing and led us around the track three times in order for us to complete a mile together. The sound of the music and the empty table brought tears to my eyes.
As the survivors and their caregivers passed around the track those who were not present with a survivor watched us pass in review. Each time we passed the La Quinta High School ROTC they were standing at attention in our honor. I cannot explain the feeling of chills that ran through my body. La Quinta High School had multiple teams participating. The citizens of La Quinta and the administrators of the school district must be very proud. Tears of joy are coming from my eyes as I write this just as they did during the survivor walk. As I walked I held my wife’s hand on the right and my nine year old granddaughter’s on my left.
During the evening is the most inspirational time of the event. It is the second survivor walk. It’s uniqueness is highlighted by what has been called the luminaria. These are white bags that have been decorated in memory of those that have passed due to cancer. It also honors those that are survivors and fighting the battle. After the decorating is complete the bags are placed around the walking track.
Then, before the night survivors walk each luminaria has a candle placed in it and they are all lit. It seems that over a thousand encircled the walking path. It is hard not to be touched as you pass so many bags with names with the light of hope inside especially when passing my father’s luminaria who passed in 1982 and then my mother in law’s luminaria who passed in 1999. Next to them were those still fighting the battle with my name being shared with Gigi, my daughter in law’s grandmother who had just been diagnosed with cancer a week ago.
It is impossible to explain the emotions of the day in any article. Hopefully you will participate in your community next year. If you have any questions about the event please contact me and I will be proud to put you in touch with the Relay For Life in your area. Now that you have the concept of the event I hope that all reading this either participate or donate to this cause next year. Cancer effects us all. We all know someone who has or has had cancer. It may be a family member or friend. For my family it was all of these. Suzie lost her mom to Lung Cancer. My father died of Kidney Cancer in the early 80’s. One of my best friends died of Pancreatic Cancer during the summer. My daughter in law’s grandmother has just been diagnosed with Kidney Cancer. A friend that I grew up with in another city now lives near me in Palm Desert again. He is being treated for Kidney Cancer. So, as in most families the list goes on and on. See everyone next year at the event. By the way after my son and I took the booth down Sunday, we gathered at my home. We all needed some rest.
For me rest was very important. It was time for my Cystoscopy Monday. I have to have one every three months. Fortunately, all was good. On the 15th of October I began three weeks of Chemotherapy. It consist of two drugs BCG and Interferon. It is inserted through a catheter which is inserted in my penis to my bladder. It wasn’t that long ago that these types of treatment were not available. So if you can build a donation to the Relay For Life into your budget, please do. It may save your life or the life of a friend or loved one. Relay For Life events are help all over the United States and various times during the year.