Not an art post, but something very dear to me.
On September 23rd, my cousin, Minda Aguhob, ran the Westchester Triathalon to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She ran in honor of one of my sisters who passed away thirteen years ago. My sister, Yvette, had been diagnosed with leukemia when she was 2 years old, back in the early 70s, when not much was known about treating cancer and the chance of survival back then was pretty dim. My parents had her treated at NIH in Bethesda, MD where they tested out new treatments on brave children. My sister’s cancer did go into remission, but because of the aggressive treatment she had many lifelong side effects. She stopped growing at the age of 11, she lost her sight, and she developed epilepsy, and later partial paralysis. But because of her aggressive treatments, so many children now have a better chance of survival and a higher quality of life. She had a very hard life physically. But she was the light of our family. Our angel that looked after us and cared for us. She made us laugh harder and louder. We knew that we were blessed to have her in our life.
For me, personally, she helped me to see the world differently. We used to draw together. I remember laying on the carpet with our big box of crayons and passing the colors to my older blind sister who covered her paper with bright scribbles of reds and pinks and greens and telling me that it was a field of flowers.
I still miss her and I always will, but I know she is in a better place where she can see and she can run and sing.
Thank you Mindy for all your hard work, physical, mental, and emotional, in training and running this race. My sisters and I will always be grateful. And I know that Yvette’s spirit was with you during the race.
i ran a marathon with team in training. having the little girl i sponsored’s name on my back helped me get through the last of those 26.2 miles. it was an amazing experience.
what a wonderful thing your friend is doing to run in your sister’s memory!
p.s. i got your postcard and it’s beautiful!! so excited to see the show up online!
Wonderful organization and such a deserving cause. Congratulations on you efforts in training and fundraising Minda. Great job! Seth
What a wonderful jester to participate in this wonder and worthwhile cause. My daughter died just 9 weeks ago from Leukemia and we just walked in the Light the Night Walk in our home town of Grand Rapids, MI. My hope is that someday soon a cure will be discovered from funds raised from people like you. Please continue to support this cause and thank you on behalf of my family who also suffered a lost from this awful disease.
leah, wow, 26.2 miles! I can’t even imagine running that. And that was only part of the race…What an amazing thing you did. So glad the announcement arrived and thanks for taking the time to tell me. I know you are so busy right now!!!
Seth, thanks for your comment. It is a wonderful organization.
Sue, I am so so sorry to hear about your recent loss of your daughter. It must still be so raw. It breaks my heart to hear. Wishing you and your family a lot fo love and strength.
bridg, yes yvette totally was there with me. i really needed her to be too. thanks for sending me yvette’s pic. i looked at her every day on my shirt for 2 weeks before my race. she helped me to finish, and finish strong, and finish for the right reasons. hugs
m
The gifts we get in life do come in unexpected packages and ways we would never think of. Not many would view cancer as a gift, but as a curse.
To Yvette! Her gift of life has gone very far and has profoundly touched people like myself who have never met her.