Pelotonia

I decided not to give cancer a voice on my blog.  

I want this to be a place where I remember and reflect on the joy in our lives.  

Cancer brings terrible grief and pain.  

I was surprised to find that cancer also brings wonderful joy.  The joy of finding out that there is boundless generosity and love in other people- even people who are strangers to you.  The joy of knowing that you can let people who love you help shoulder the burden when it starts to overwhelm you.  The joy of not taking little moments for granted.

  

One of the greatest joys was cheering on our friend Vannessa who rode in the Pelotonia in honor of Rick and her father-in-law, who also battled a brain tumor.

There goes Super Vannessa, zooming down High Street shortly after leaving the starting line

The World's Cutest Cheering Section

Rick being interviewed by a Columbus Dispatch reporter at the first rest stop

A Congratulations Hug from her boys

Champions at the Finish Line

Not only was it incredibly emotional to watch Vannessa give her strength to this cause with Rick's name printed on her jersey, it was infinitely more amazing to be surrounded that day by literally thousands of people willing to battle through a grueling bike tour because they care that people like Rick are battling their own grueling fight. 

The day after Rick's first MRI, when we knew that he had a tumor, but did not yet know much more than that, as we were numbly going through the motions of a normal routine and trying not to let ourselves be overcome by fear and despair, I walked through a room in the house and saw a piece of paper lying on the ground.  When I picked it up and turned it over, it read 'Friendship is a sheltering tree'.  Thank you, Vannessa, for giving so much of yourself to us: your strength, your love, your shoulder to cry on, your connections in the Neurosurgery Department, your care and concern, your awareness that Rick is the primary cook in our family, your sense of humor, your friendship.