My Kick-Off Speech for Deerfield's Relay-for-Life last night

I was asked by the organizer of Deerfield-Highland Park-Highwood-Bannockburn's Relay for Life to give the kick-off speech to get the event started. The speech I gave is written below for those of you interested in seeing it.

Here is a link with a local eNews article about the Relay:  Deerfield Patch Relay for Life article

Relay for Life is a 12-hour event - 6 p.m to 6 a.m. next morning where individuals take turns within their teams to walk the track (in this case, at Deerfield High School) so that a member of each team is on the track continuously through the length of the event.  Relay for Life is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.  There are many Relay for Life events throughout the country.


RELAY FOR LIFE SPEECH - 6/9/12

The phone rang early Monday morning.  It is my doctor.  “I’d like you to come in today.  I have an opening at 1:00, are you available?”  My follow up appointment to review test results had been scheduled for Friday.  This was not a good sign.  At that moment, I knew that my life would never be the same. 

I was right.  That appointment began a long, ongoing series of tests, scans, treatments and reports that would forever change my life.  I’d have to learn a new language with terms I never wanted to know - like “adenocarcinoma” and “stereotactic radiation.”  At the same time I was trying to master this new language, I had to make decisions – quickly – about treatment options that would impact the length and quality of my life.

My head was spinning – and not because of the cancerous lesions that had spread to my brain from my lungs.  I felt numb – like this was happening to someone else.  But it wasn’t – it was me.

Those initial days of diagnosis and treatment were an odd combination of whirlwind and super slow motion.  It was so easy to get lost or feel panicked.

The only way to get through those dark hours was with the support of others – to listen, advise, comfort, commiserate and manage the everyday activities that I couldn’t focus on at the time.  That support came from many places in many forms, including family, friends, community and organizations like the American Cancer Society and their many resources for cancer fighters.

I don’t know how I would have managed without the incredible support I received and I continue to receive.

My name is DonnaLee Caringella and I have stage 4 lung cancer with metastasis to the brain.  But I feel lucky.  I am lucky because research has made advancements in cancer treatment that have allowed me to live longer than I would have 8 or 10 years ago with the same diagnosis, some of that research funded by the American Cancer Society.  I feel lucky because of the wonderful people who have come into my life to help me – great doctors and nurses, family, volunteers from support organizations, old and new friends, even strangers.  I have experienced more goodness, generosity and kindness than I ever knew was possible.

As a result of medical advancements and incredible support from others I stand before you today in full remission with no evidence of disease.

I consider all of you at this Relay for Life today as my supporters because you are sacrificing your evening and sleep to be here and you’ve raised funds so the American Cancer Society can continue to help anyone who has cancer – and there are a lot of us.  I’m sure everyone here either has a personal experience with this awful disease or knows someone who has.  My sister is a university professor.  After my cancer diagnosis, she asked her class of 50 students to raise their hands if anyone close to them had or has cancer.  EVERY HAND WENT UP.  Cancer affects us all.  Like the disease itself, the impact of cancer spreads to many people beyond those who actually have cancer.  You are supporting them as well, since the American Cancer Society provides assistance to caregivers and families of cancer patients.

On behalf of all of us who have heard those fateful words, “you have cancer” and for all of their loved ones, I thank you.  You are making a difference.