Stand up 2 Cancer at the World Series on October 30, 2015, united an entire stadium to support awareness of cancer. I was introduced to the organization a few years ago through my oldest son. He followed them on Social Media so I began doing the same. SU2C’s website has the following statement:
For the first time in history, we can imagine stopping cancer in its tracks.
Stand Up To Cancer’s (SU2C) mission is to raise funds to accelerate the pace of groundbreaking translational research that can get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now.
SU2C brings together the best and the brightest researchers and mandates collaboration among the cancer community. By galvanizing the entertainment industry, SU2C has set out to generate awareness, educate the public on cancer prevention and help more people diagnosed with cancer become long-term survivors.
A Detour at the World Series
I admittedly have had my focus on organizations, professionals and patients involved and dealing with breast cancer and breast reconstruction. My focused took a bit of a detour last night. That detour was one that was not specific to breast cancer but all cancers. It took place in NYC last night at Citi Field with the Kansas City Royals taking on The New York Mets for game 3 of the World Series.
I am a die-hard Royals fan for a few good reasons. I am originally from Kansas and remember the days of George Brett. My niece, who I frequently refer to as my “soul mate”, has had the fortune of attending the games this World Series because her husband works for the Royals. I’m living vicariously through them as they attend the games and I love the shared social media posts and texts we’ve shared. And last but not least, blue is my favorite color. Go Royals!
Last night as I was comfortably sitting in my easy chair fixated on Major League Baseball’s World Series I was reintroduced to SU2C’s organization in a truly emotional way. I knew my niece was somewhere in the stadium with her hubby. During the game, there was a moment, a pause in the action, to honor all those affected by cancer. The announcer stated that they were focusing on pediatric cancers. This video done by SU2C beautifully portrays why.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmt0F4X93ZI
My Soul Mate
When the announcer made his statement about pediatric cancer, the first person I thought of was my niece. She is a pediatric intensive care nurse who has dealt with some really tough cases of varying pediatric illnesses. That’s a tough gig for such a young woman but she does it with more compassion and grace than anyone I can imagine. She is beautiful inside and out, as the saying goes. Through my second diagnosis she and her husband both stood by my side, although it was long distance, through texts, phone calls and yes, this fabulous gift. I received this in the mail when I returned home after traveling for phase one of having my breasts reconstructed after a mastectomy. She made this herself and it proudly sits on my desk in my office. You can see that the base has printed on it the name that she refers to me as, “Aunt T”. Since my first name starts with a “T” she fondly refers to me as her “Aunt T” (Auntie)! It holds my valuable thumb drive with all my blog posts. Yes, I think of her often. She is my soul mate.
A Tearful yet Happy Text!
And so, as I was watching the segment from SU2C’s tribute with every stadium member holding a card from the organization, thinking of my niece and her work with pediatric patients, I received this text and photo from my sweet niece taken, I’m sure, by her husband.
Cancer affects many: children, women, men, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends and yes….. Even Aunties!