Souvenirs from My Cancer Adventure: An Unexpected Gift

While cancer is certainly an unwelcome surprise, there are gifts on the path.  One of the best gifts of the ‘Adventure’ is the calling to raise my voice to honor my tireless cheering squad of doctors, nurses, physical therapists as well as countless family and friends.

This week was an opportunity to do just that during the wonderful convergence of National Volunteer Week and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s Delaware Cancer Action Week. 

To me, there is no better way to honor my caregivers and supporters than by working to make a difference for cancer patients and their families, which is why I became a volunteer legislative patient advocate.  During weeks such as this and throughout the year, we meet with legislators, tell our stories, and help them understand why a piece of legislation is important, and in many cases, lifesaving.   

As someone who has made a career of producing business meetings and special events, I have spent my career backstage, in the shadows.  To move from backstage to onstage was certainly a new path, very much outside my comfort zone, but one I have found to be incredibly rewarding.

Nothing will ever make the ‘Adventure’ worth it, but this work gives the ‘Adventure’ purpose, it gives it meaning.

And I could ask for nothing more.

Onward!

For more information on volunteering:

·         American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN): https://www.fightcancer.org/

·         Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS): https://www.lls.org/volunteer

·         Association for Clinical Oncology (ACSO): https://www.asco.org/advocacy

·         AmeriCorps: https://www.nationalservice.gov/serve/via