On Friday I am 15 years Cancer Free.
15 years seems like a lot of time to pass by. Honestly, it is!
It doesn’t feel like having cancer is within my reach anymore.
Yet, I still cry when I talk about it (sometimes) and my hands are shaking while typing this.
I know that experience has a large effect on me and my attitude, in a positive way really, but it’s still a raw wound.
Having cancer at 12 years old makes you grow up a little faster than you’re supposed to.
I learned a lot about how to deal with emotional stress, navigating others’ emotions, dealing with adults in a deep way… I also learned how to rely on a support system heavily, trusting but still independent.
Community throughout my life has helped build me, support me, guide me and… well, keep me alive.
Todays community is more playful, positive, movement oriented and joyful.
Yesterday’s community was more supportive, reassuring and brought a ton of guidance.
At age 13, a year after my final surgery, I started fundraising for Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at my middle school. As I aged, the efforts quickly turned into me deciding to host a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
We called it Hoops for Hope. Over 3 years, we accumulated over 120 teams, 50 silent auction items and ended up fundraising over $25,000. I was 14 when I started organizing this.
Hoops for Hope taught me how integral community is.
The people who helped me build the event through the people who donated or showed up to play. Everyone mattered.
We created an atmosphere of positivity, charity, hope and happiness out of a cause that was innately negative.
I don’t take for granted the communities around me. The positivity that comes with Lime Social Club, or my college basketball team, my friends, or my family. And most importantly, with my parents.
Lime Social Club has brought together a unique experience.
I am able to host events where all these people interact. I meet new people and hear their stories, journeys. And, when I can, I will help them along the way.
We have been building a community of like-minded individuals, all excited to interact, experience and grow together.
I think we all win when we work together, and that’s what community is about.
I’m excited for many more years of health to come, more years of building and an excessive amount of positivity.
Cheers to the day.. or as my mom always says:
Smile at the day, and the day will smile back at you!
This is about 10 days into my recovery. There was an overwhelming outpour from family, friends, neighbors and just kind people who came to help my parents and send something cheerful for me.
