Cancer is a scary word. No one wants to ever hear the words, you have cancer. On the day my Mom found out she had cancer, in true fashion she accepted those words and said, "oh well, I guess that's it for me". I reminded her that I had cancer and beat it, my brother had cancer and beat it and that she too could beat cancer. I truly believed that. Heaven knows if anyone could beat it my Mom could. Mom was the strongest, most selfless person I have ever known.  Mom had a hard life growing up, yet she never once complained or felt sorry for herself. She was orphaned at the age of 3, after both her parents died. She was passed around to a few family members, but ultimately ended up in an orphanage where she grew up for many years. She never knew she had siblings until she was 14. Imagine the joy she felt to find out she had 5 siblings, 3 brothers and 2 sisters. She loved them dearly. After she left the orphanage, she made her way in life on her own. She met and married my dad in 1947 and had 4 children, 4 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. They would be married for 55 years before my father passed away. My mother loved her family more than anything in this world and she loved nothing more than to be surrounded by all of us, as often as she could. During my mothers 6 month battle with lung cancer, she was indeed surrounded by her family. She spent time reminiscing of days gone by, retelling funny stories, enjoying her beloved Yankees, watching spectacular sunsets, laughing and playing with her great-granddaughter, enjoying cupcakes and feeling the love we all were showering her with every possible moment we could. She was surrounded by love every single day. The woman who grew up without a family had created a beautiful family and a beautiful life. As I watched her sleeping, I would wonder how often she did the same for me or my siblings when we were kids.  I asked myself, "how do I say goodbye to my mother". It's been 13 years since I asked that question and I still do not have an answer. You see, you never say goodbye, how can you. She lives inside each one of us who's lives she touched.  She taught us about strength, courage, determination and perseverance. She taught us about the true meaning of unconditional love. She taught us to never give up even in the face of insurmountable odds. She taught us that love lives on long after someone is gone and that those you love are never really gone if you carry them in your heart. She is carried closely in my heart each and every day. We honor and remember this extraordinary woman, who I am so blessed to call my Mom. Mom, you taught us well. Join A Team HERE

On-site registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 17th, 2024

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A family-friendly 5K walk and community event to support CancerCare's free, professional support services for anyone affected by a lung cancer diagnosis.

CDC recommendations about COVID-19 safety will be followed. 

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Tawana Pyle- tpyle@cancercare.org