Seriously, though.
Friday I didn't go to school.
I skipped the senior picnic.
I went to WalMart with my mom and Teresa and we got gas and went to the elementary school to pay for a t-shirt for my sister and just spent the day together.
Then, on Friday night, I filled my arms with "Super Cooper" and "Cure Cancer" and "Go Layla" beads and went to Wayne Community College for Relay For Life. I knew I was going to meet Cooper's mom, but I wasn't sure if I was going to get to meet him, and I really had no idea if I'd get to meet Layla and her family.
Little did I know as I was getting out of my car that I was about to experience something truly amazing.
I have followed kids for over a year now, and I even know Olivia and her family and run her twitter account, but I knew Olivia before she was diagnosed. Please don't get me wrong. The impact that seeing Olivia for the first time after her diagnosis had on me was extreme. It was so different, though, because I knew Livi before she was diagnosed with the monster called cancer, and so seeing her after that diagnosis and after she had fought her battle and her scans were clean really had an impact on me. She was and is still so strong and I remember noticing the wisdom in her little eyes that is still there almost a year later. Olivia was diagnosed July 5, and September 1 her scans were clear. I saw her September 4 for the first time after her diagnosis. I kept up with her fight through her mom, but I never made it to Greenville to see her while she was in the hospital. To be honest, I'm not sure I could have handled it.
Anyway, so Friday night.
I didn't know about Cooper during his actual battle, but when Sydney's mom, Donna, told me about Cooper and his Relay For Life team, I found his mom, Renee, on Facebook and began communicating with her and, like many other kids I follow, little Cooper and his story just stole my heart. I made lots of "Super Cooper" and "Cure Cancer" beads for his fundraising tent, and the first thing I did when I got to Relay For Life was go and find the tent so I could pass on the beads.
I walked up to the "Super Cooper's Troopers" tent, and immediately was greeted by Mrs. Renee. She is so awesome. She gave me money for the beads, but I handed it right back to her and got some "I'm A Super Cooper Fan" t-shirts. After she took the beads off of my arm, she pointed to a precious little boy getting his face painted just a few steps from me and said "That's Cooper right there". I looked over at him and my heart totally melted. He was even more adorable than the pictures! Mrs. Renee handed me one of the necklaces and I put it on Cooper and he gave me one of the most powerful hugs I've ever gotten. The effect meeting people you feel like you already know might not sound too powerful, but I promise it is. His little smile could light up a room and he is so sweet! I asked if they needed any help at their tent, and they said they were okay, but we exchanged phone numbers just in case. As I was walking away I thanked God for healing Cooper on earth and for the blessing of getting to meet him. He and his family are truly awesome.
I have been following Layla for a few months. Keeping up with how she's doing, looking at her pictures, and communicating with her parents, who even have asked me to babysit her. But I never met her, or her parents. Until Friday night. When I left Cooper's tent, I decided to walk some laps for the kids, and for papa and Mr. David. Halfway through my first lap I saw them. I don't know where I got all this courage from, but I walked right up and said hello and then we just stood there and talked for a few minutes like we had seen each other every weekend for years. It was amazing. I gave them their beads and then I got to play with Layla for a minute. Holding her little hand and getting a picture with her are the two things I remember the most. It really had an impact on me finally getting to see her for real.
I wish I could meet all of the kids that take my heart.
After meeting them, I did some more laps and visited some more tables until it was time for luminaries. I ended up in front of Layla's and watched her parents light them. Then I stood there thinking about the blessings in life, and I thought about Madison Rachel and how her battle with AT/RT had just ended.
Layla's family knew the Rachel family and Mrs. Jenifer even held little Madison Rachel. I cannot comprehend the way I felt realizing that four-year-old Madison had the same cancer as Layla, and Layla's mom held her in her arms, and now she was gone from this earth. How difficult must that be?
Cancer is a monster and I hate it.
I took off the beads I'd made for myself to wear in memory of Madison, and I gave them to Mrs. Jenifer.
We talked for a few more minutes, and I gave her a big hug before going to see Cooper's luminaries.
Cooper's luminaries were in the shape of a heart. When I got to them, he was standing there with his mom looking at them. I spoke with them for a few minutes and then knelt down to give Cooper another hug.
After that, my emotions finally got the best of me, and so I went back to my car and cried.
I talked to God all the way home.
I thanked Him for Cooper, and for Layla, and their families, and for the many many many blessings all around.
I prayed for the Rachel family, and I prayed for all of the fighters out there, children and adults.
Last year I was only at Relay For Life for 30 minutes, and that was to see a friend.
This year it had a serious impact on me that I will never forget. That event means something. It means a lot to a lot of people and families, and it means a lot to me.
The only way to describe it?
Relay For Life 2011 was one of the best eye opening experiences I have had in a long time.
Until my next post,
Stormy <3
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