this weekend kathryn and i were lucky enough to attend the OMG cancer summit, a conference for young adult survivors and their caregivers and friends. there were panels on oncofertility, relationships, survivor stories, and even a keynote by ethan zohn, vassar grad and survivor winner (as in the CBS show).
the energy at the conference was something to behold. the bald heads, the shared experience of pain and suffering, the sense that we all were indeed the lucky ones – it was a powerful reminder of the tenuous hold we all have on our fragile lives.
our lives are all fragile, all fleeting, whether or not you have cancer. but being a young(ish) person and facing your mortality, facing the fact that your body is eating itself, you gain an enhanced sense of just how fragile you really are.
i would never wish the trials of cancer on anyone. but there are lessons to be learned. without the torture of the last two years, i don’t think i would truly appreciate the value of a hug from family and friend, the power of a letter, or a giant oversize novelty congratulations card (thanks bev). i would never hold in my heart the real and never-ceasing love that i expressed below.
so thank you, cancer. thank you for your lessons on life, and love, and death.
now leave me alone.
Tags: ethan zohn, omg cancer summit, red rubber ball, vassar college
Jonah — I haven’t commented in a long time but I have been savoring every one of your eloquent essays (best one: Your tribute to Kathryn… oh my such sweetness), and celebrating your victories, both small and large. I think of you often, but mostly, I think of your parents because I figure it’s a good thing for parents like me to focus on them so that our collective energies might bring them strength. And may it be so. Much love to all of you. -lee.