A personal story and a good cause

This Sunday, I’m participating in a super cool event with a bunch of awesome creatives to raise money for cancer research. I’ll tell you about that shortly, but first, I want to tell you a story about two very special women: Kerri's mom and auntie.

Last summer, within one or two weeks of each other (it’s all a blur), both women received cancer diagnostics. Kerri’s mom had breast cancer, and they found tumors in auntie's brain, lungs, lymph nodes…you get the picture.

Her mom is just over seventy years old, and usually they don’t biopsy lymph nodes at that age, which is the most common area for breast cancer to spread (I’m still wrapping my head around the age limit). The doctor decided to do it anyway while removing the offensive lump, and thank goodness, because she had a rare case of estrogen cancer, which had spread to a single lymph node.

Meanwhile, her aunt received radiation targeting her brain and lung tumors in a bid to slow their growth, and then she started immunotherapy. As long as she responded well to the treatments, we were in a good place.

Kerri’s mom recovered from the surgery and then underwent three weeks of radiation therapy, five days a week. Much different than her aunt’s few radiation sessions—in her mom’s case, they were looking at eradication. In her aunt’s, simply at buying time.

For a few months, we fell into a pattern with Kerri’s aunt. Every three weeks, we met with the oncologist and got bloodwork done, and then the following week was immunotherapy time.

I’m very familiar with cancer centres now, especially across Ottawa. In each of them is a bell that people ring when their treatment is done. Everyone claps and cheers, and not just because someone is cured, but because it reverberates with hope.

About a month ago, on a Friday, her mom rang that bell.

The following Monday, auntie’s immunotherapy treatments were deemed no longer effective and she began palliative care.

They don't  estimate how long you'll live anymore (everyone is hoping she gets to enjoy the summer), but we have cremation details sorted out and know what end of life will look like. At-home palliative supports are solid in Ontario, and hopefully auntie gets to stay there until her final breath.

Meanwhile, her mom has a new lease on life, after healing from the radiation burns. She’s in her early 70s and brimming with energy and plans.

I don’t have a witty way to end this story, except to tell you that I’ve seen firsthand what cancer research can do, whether it’s to heal, to buy more (quality) time, or to detect earlier...it’s all so important, since so many lives are impacted by cancer.

It would mean the world to me if you’d consider donating to cancer research in my name (please follow this link and just mark my name or “Eberron”), for my current and future loved ones, and for current and future loved ones around the world.

…you remember I told you at the beginning that I was participating in an event on Sunday? If you want to have some fun, come join me for the full day livestream from 12pm ET to 8pm ET as I play D&D Eberron with the Infinity & Beyond crew: Jennifer Brozek, Brandon O’Brien, John Helfers, Trendane Sparks, DM’d by ArvanEleron, aka Gregory A. Wilson. It’s a seriously good time, and we’re going to probably face some terrible monsters that’ll try to eat us. While that's happening, you can win lots of amazing prizes like games and books.

All for a good cause!

Thank you for being here. For reading all the way to the end. For caring. You make a bigger difference than you'll probably ever know. 

Much love,

Marie