It takes a village.....

SEPTEMBER IS CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH!!

Our current Secretary of State and former First Lady, Hilary Clinton wrote the book, "It Takes a Village to Raise a Child." While I wholeheartedly agree with Mrs. Clinton's sentiment, I further believe that it also takes a village to survive cancer. That statement is multi-faceted. Typically, before a cancer diagnosis, you undergo a (hopefully)thorough battery (or village) of tests. Those tests are (hopefully) read and conferred upon by a team (or village) of docs, who further conference (hopefully) before they present your options for treatments combinations (you get it - chemo, radiation, surgery all live in the same village).

After all is said and done, decisions are made and treatment plan is in place, it is time for YOUR village to shine! Truth be told, there is only one person in this world who has the luxury to drop everything and put you first. That person is you. Side-stepping my soapbox - almost - a support system ranks right up there with positive attitude and faith, meaning both spiritually and an unwaivering trust in your medical team. A support system may be at the ready as soon as word of diagnosis spreads. It may also need to be coddled and carefully constructed. Regardless, please never feel that cancer is something you must go through alone.

In the upper right corner of this post, you will find a picture taken today of my sister Jillian, our faithful volunteer Alivia, and myself. We're standing in the parking lot of the very church who organized the sole fundraiser for me about 22 years during my battle with Osteosarcoma. The church came together again today, for a man who I have known my entire life. He's battling kidney cancer. Selfishly, I feel like today brought my journey full circle yet once more. This day was a true priviledge and honor to have the opportunity to be on the giving end of my village.

Another fact also deserves mention. The small non-profit that I founded, Cancertacular™, has a mission directly correlated to the heroic efforts of my village. Cancertacular™ serves Lackawanna County in Pennsylvania, and the 10 surrounding counties. Yes, we do have limited funding, and some other constraints to work around. Years from now, as a well oiled machine of hope, we will still serve those same counties - the ones that are central to my village. For me, home is truly where my heart is - and where is it continually nurtured on a daily basis!

Have you hugged your village today?

Fabulously Yours,

Tina