What Cancer Cannot Do…


It cannot cripple love.

It cannot shatter hope.

It cannot corrode faith.

It cannot destroy friendship.

It cannot suppress memories.

It cannot silence courage.

It cannot invade the soul.

It cannot steal eternal life.

It cannot conquer the spirit.

-Anonymous


On Thursday as we all hopefully sit comfortably in our homes and reflect on the year, the obstacles, the blessings, the things we’ve missed, and yet the things we’ve also gained, I ask that you truly evaluate how blessed we are to be where we are today despite the struggles of each day, each month, this year and every year.


As many of you already know, Sarah Talbot’s daughter Maia has been such a fierce warrior during her battle with cancer.  Last week she courageously made the decision to discontinue treatment and enter into hospice care.  A decision no 29 year old should have to make.  What were YOU doing at 29 years old?  Me?  I was blessed enough to have lived another lifetime in California and was returning to Memphis to give college a second go-round.  I had my life ahead of me with no known obstacles stopping me but myself.  


As a professional who has worked with the pediatric oncology population, I have had the privilege to walk alongside families as they navigate the scary unknown of cancer.  I’ve had the privilege to take care of their children.  I’ve had the privilege to laugh, cry, and worry with them.  I’ve had the privilege of MANY nerf gun wars, watched more than my share of movies I wasn’t really interested in,  and had my hair “styled” by elementary school kids.  I've had the privilege to rub my patients' backs when they were vomiting, or help them walk to the bathroom instead of using their walker or wheelchair because it was the last dignity they were holding on to.  I've had the privilege to say  “I don’t have that answer” or “I don’t know why” more than I choose to admit.  I've often had the privilege of  just sitting and listening,  just being present during a good cry,  or watching a patient sleep so their parent could get out for a few hours break.  And while many of them have beat this monster, I have also been to many more funerals than I care to count.  


As you count your blessings Thursday, please keep Sarah, Maia and their family in your prayers.  I am grateful that Maia is in charge of her destiny.  Her choice, her timing, her terms.  However, the aftermath of cancer leaves a hole in families that never goes away, it just changes and is assimilated into daily life.  What if this was your child?  I guarantee that the approaching holiday season would be the least of your concerns.


If I lived near Sarah, I would step up to bring a meal, clean her house, help with pets, kids, run errands...just fill a need so that it was one less thing for Sarah and her family to worry about.  Maybe we can come together to “hire” someone to do these things for her and her family...wherever the need is for them now or down the line.  I’m not asking for you to reach deeply into your pockets, just skip a coffee, an extra pie at Thanksgiving, consider giving less at Christmas and put some money towards something that shows how grateful you are for everything you have in life.  I can’t imagine if this was my child.  Can you?  How truly blessed we are no matter our circumstances.


Admirals coming together for Admirals.  We are stronger together.  --Jamie