Cancer is probably one of the scariest words (for me). Not long ago Jo lost his grandmother to Cancer, which she’d been battling for 10 years. She had actually been diagnosed with 3 different forms of it. Well everyone is just now starting to heal from the loss. A few days ago we found out that his grandfather (on his dad’s side) has just been diagnosed with Cancer again and will have to begin treatments to shrink the tumor down enough that it can be removed with surgery. He’s really not in the best of health so everyone is really concerned that he may not be up for the eventual surgery. I feel so awful for the family. It’s like my mother has always said; when it rains, it pours.

So many people have had loved ones diagnosed with Cancer. Many of those diagnosed lost their battles, such was the case with several of my relatives, Jo’s grandmother, Tammy’s sister Diane and my dear friend Stacey who lost her father earlier this year to Cancer. I honestly don’t think I know a single person who hasn’t had a loved one diagnosed. We just found out about another family friend who was diagnosed with Cancer recently (which has been attributed to years of working around asbestos and inhaling it), who will be undergoing mesothelioma treatment for his Cancer.

Thankfully not everyone that has been diagnosed with Cancer has lost their battles. My cousin Jeff was diagnosed with Leukemia as a child and has been in remission since the age of 8 or 9. My grandmother beat breast cancer. My mother was diagnosed with skin cancer (people wonder why I refuse to be outdoors anytime of year without good sunscreen) but had a minor surgery to remove it.

All of these people, those who are survivors and those who lost their battles, are the reason why our families donate to Cancer research and many of us walk in our local Relay’s For Life.

For Jo’s and Stacey’s family, Christmas is going to be tough this year. This will be their first year minus two very special, amazing people but in my heart, I know these people will always be “here” for all of us because as long as WE remember them.. they live on with us and through us. We’re going to burn a candle all day on December 25th in Jo’s grandmother’s memory.