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| (© Michael Appleton for The New York Times) |
For those not in the know, Robin was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and underwent lumpectomy and chemotherapy. Unfortunately, in June of 2013, Robin announced she developed Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) as a result of chemo. Treatment for Robin's MDS included more chemo — and a bone marrow transplant. But first, she needed to find a donor. She was fortunate to find a perfect match in her sister, who agreed to donate her healthy bone marrow to Robin...
OK, back to the story. Robin is a famous news anchor with access to the world's best healthcare. She has had the support and well-wishes of tens of thousands (perhaps even millions) of complete strangers. That is powerful. And that got me thinking: What about the millions of people who go through their cancer experience with relatively little or no emotional support from family or friends, let alone from complete strangers? I'd love to see the "famous folks" throw a little love and light their way.
SO ROBIN, IF YOU'RE LISTENING: As you bathe in the warmth and generosity of the many, many supporters who have wished you well and held you up in thought and prayer, please use this opportunity to ask these same folks for one more favor: to look in their own backyards. Remind everyone that there's a good chance that someone in their circle of family or friends is going through their own cancer hell (even if it looks from the outside like they are handling it well). Please, ask the masses to shower the same healing intentions they've been sending your way on someone they know personally. Remind us all of the healing power of a call, a text, a card, an email. Encourage us to share the love freely within our own family trees. Compassion is a lot like butter — a little goes a long way. And it is only through sharing that we realize we are not alone, we are not weird in how we feel, and we deserve to be heard. And that's the kind of support we all need. If we can do it for a stranger, we can do it for someone we know and love. Right?
Continued strength to Robin, and to all of you out there who are dealing with the impossible. To build a wall of strength, we've gotta start right here at home.
dear renn,
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful message you've sent. i especially like..."compassion is a lot like butter - a little goes a long way.". so true. if we are lucky enough to have good medical insurance, a roof over our heads, and a good support network we should be MORE than grateful! thinking of others and following up with acts of kindness is definitely the way to show our gratitude, and our compassion. it helps us get outside of ourselves and sharpens our awareness of how many people suffer from profound lonlines, poverty, fear, and feelings of helplessness. i think of parents with a seriously sick child, a neighbor who is frail and elderly, a talented artist who is rapidly going blind, the man in the parking lot of our supermarket who wrangles the carts and had no coat during the last hurricaine. whenever we've reached out to them in even some small way - well -it's making me cry right now just thinking of how they couldn't stop saying thank you.
you nailed it renn - we don't have to look far to find someone who desperately needs our kindness - especially those who may be feeling "invisible".
love, XOXO,
kaern, TC
You're right, Karen: We don't have to look very far at all to "see" the people who need us most. Thank you for sharing your compassion with the world! :-)
DeleteSo true. And you've hit on why I purposefully seek out the not so 'fun' blogs.The ones that don't talk about going on vacation, how to decorate the house etc...Those people don't need as much sunshine as those who are dealing with life and death situations..almost alone. The blogs that don't get many comments are the ones I comment on.Blame it on my Christian principles-I want to be a ray of light to everyone and with the internet helping us to reach each other, why not be a ray to those who I can't ever visit? And why can't we tell others about those who NEED light? Who aren't famous? I've probably gone off the point but your post helped crystallise why I don't read the blogs I used to read.Seeing the thoughts of those dealing with such diseases, helps me get a glimpse of my more reticent South Africans who tend to be more stoical. It helps me know which questions to ask, how to be 'there..'
ReplyDeleteThandi, that's so awesome that you seek out the "less fun" blogs to read and comment on and offer your support. You are an inspiration, and a bright ray of light!
Deleteyes renn....i kind of saw all the focus on RR as a double edged sword. it was great that she was doing well and that so many people were supporting her, and it also brought needed attention to this subject matter etc... but when i started seeing the "commercialization" of it all....like when actors who were on ABC sitcoms etc...were wishing her well....that is great, but they could do it in a personal way and not commercialize it (look at me talking about not commercializing!) it kind of felt like the "pink ribbon syndrome" all over again....make it dramatic, make it heroic, make it a happy ending. i don't quite know how to put it into words...but deep down, i just know there is something not quite "right" about it. and you are right...i hope RR does take the opportunity to encourage all of us to look into our own backyards.
ReplyDeletelove you renn. xo m
M, it made me uncomfortable watching all the coverage too, all the signs people made, all the well-wishing. It was all too much. Because it was all for the ratings. And it ain't right. And it absolutely is the same as Pinktober. Thanks for recognizing that.
DeletePS: And oh the irony of you and commercializing! LOL!!
There's a wonderful organization called Chemo Angels, www.chemoangels.com, that provides support for chemo patients from volunteers who sign up to send cards, small gifts, and support while you go through chemo. I had a chemo angel with whom I have a strong bond to this day.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing that website, Eileen. I also discovered www.littlelifepreservers.com.
DeleteI'll look into finding others, and will write a future blog post on my findings.
Exactly Renn... not that we shouldn't have compassion for total strangers but we certainly need to look at the people in our lives, the ones you can make a difference in.
ReplyDeleteAmen, sistah!
DeleteWonderful post that really resonated with me. During my diagnosis and treatment, there were people in my life that would not even shoot me an e-mail. Several whom I considered good friends rejected me. Thank goodness these people are out of my life now, but I really believe that I would've handled things better had they shown me the support I so needed and deserved.
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Beth! This is an unfortunate (but common) side effect of cancer that isn't talked about enough.
DeleteI've said it before, and I know you have too: YAY blogging and the fantastic blogosphere family!!
xo
I have mixed feelings about her return. While I'm glad she's doing well and is speaking honestly about how harrowing the experience was, I think her experience is far removed from most of ours because of her celebrity status. I do however wholeheartedly endorse your call for more compassion. Well done, Renn.
ReplyDeletePink: Yes indeedy! And thank you!
DeleteREADERS: For more, please see the "Thoughts on Robin Roberts" post that Pink Underbelly wrote today: http://pinkunderbelly.com/2013/02/22/thoughts-on-robin-roberts/
Renn...I want to say that I LOVE your blog!!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU, Holly!!! :-)
DeleteGREAT post Renn! Compassion, love, hope... all very powerful, very healing. I recently participated in a quilt project for a women with stage 4 breast cancer. I have never met her but was introduced to her online from a connection I made on breastcancer.org. A bunch of us made a 12 x 12 quilted square and then mailed them to another women who put them all together. I had never quilted before and my square was sort of not perfect but overall the quilt was beautiful and the receiver was so grateful and I felt to proud to be a part of the project. I'm making another square this weekend - sadly for another stage 4 women.
ReplyDeleteShannon, thanks! That's awesome that you're quilting as a group. Very powerful, creative, compassionate of you all! Kudos!! Will you be blogging about it with any photos? Would love to see it, as I'm sure many others would as well.
Deletexoxo
Renn - as with anything of substance and value, to be sustainable we MUST strengthen where we stand first. Ourselves, our family, our circle of friends, our community, etc. Only then can a true wave of change occur and take root.
ReplyDelete