In January 2021, my family’s lives were forever changed when we found out that my mom had been diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. For the last few years, she has been undergoing treatment at Dana Farber Cancer Center, and they have given us time that we would not have otherwise had. For that, we are forever grateful. If I have learned one thing from this entire experience it is that your life can change in an instant. So, hug those who are close to you a little tighter, tell them how much you care about them, and spend as much time as possible doing what you love.
Since her diagnosis in early 2021, we have made a concerted effort as a family to make as many memories as possible with the time that we have. In the last few years, we have gone on a dream vacation to Turks and Caicos, went to Washington DC in the fall, and even visited New York City at Christmas time- the most magical place on earth! A terminal cancer diagnosis can often feel like the end of the world, but my mom, with Dana Farber helping her every step of the way, has chosen to fight for time with the ones that she loves the most.
For the last 20 years, my mom has made countless sacrifices for my siblings and me. She was always the parent who would volunteer to chaperone the school field trips, helped organize almost every holiday play or party at school, and made sure to always be home to help us with our homework and make us dinner after school. We could always rest assured that there would not be a sports game that went by where she was not the loudest one on the sidelines cheering us on. Throughout her entire life, she has always been someone who puts other's needs before hers. She is truly the most selfless person I have ever met.
Even after getting sick, my mom has still made her presence felt in our lives and the lives of others in ways that I would have never thought possible. Whether she is in bed, undergoing treatment, or stuck in the hospital for some complication, she always makes sure that we are doing the laundry & chores at home, checking in with us on how school is going, and making sure that we never miss a relative or family’s friends birthday. In true Mom fashion, at the BAA Half Marathon last year, it was 50 degrees, pouring rain and my mom had just finished a round of chemo. Nevertheless, she got herself out of bed, put on every layer she could find, and went with my family to see me cross the finish line. Seeing her standing on the sideline of White Stadium as I rounded the corner to the finish line filled my heart with joy and created a memory for me that I will hold onto forever. Every day, I strive to live a life my mom is going to be proud of and I endeavor to embody her defining value of being a person for others in everything that I do.
I am running for Dana Farber so that every person who is affected by a life-changing diagnosis like this has access to the same treatment and impeccable care that my mom has had access to. I am running so that hopefully, one day, we will live in a world where terminal cancer diagnoses don’t exist. I am running so that we can live in a
world without cancer.
