Relay of HOPE
By Jennifer Abadesso
Why do all things happen? It's a question that often plagues me when I am curled up in bed and the day that has passed remains but an ember dimming. Why are so many individuals rallying together to combat the enemy? Or as one of my father's doctors put it "a defiant child that does not want to go to sleep". The adversary I speak of is none other than that six letter word that has unfortunately become a staple topic in our lives. Cancer. If you had a candid conversation with anyone touched by this illness, you'd be unraveling the fabric of their life stitched together by the laughter and tears.
My father would never utter the word cancer, perhaps it's the means he developed in order to cope, but for me, the catalyst was the day my mother informed me that "it" had returned.
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The day had begun like any other, we had all settled back into our normal routines and my father's bout of cancer was no longer taking center stage. But as the evening wore down, our lives took yet another unexpected turn. I vividly recall my mother's stark panicked face as she watched in agony, helpless, as my father's body shook violently. I recall seeing his eyes roll back in his head and feeling terrified at the sheer prospect of losing him. The rest is a random sequence of events that could have easily emerged from the pages of a bestselling novel or Hollywood blockbuster. Needless to say, while I remained optimistic that the seizures could have merely been derived from stress, "cancer" stared bleakly at my face.
At around eleven in the evening, the phone's ringer echoed throughout the house. My mother's tone of voice was distressing, as she whispered, "It's cancer again." After hanging up the receiver, a sensation of despair washed over me. My body numb, I sat on my bed and uttered the same words in succession, "Please Lord, not again." It was amidst the barrage of tears and uncontrollable sobbing, that I turned to the one thing that has always been my solace, writing. The lyrics of what would become my father's anthem, poured out of me with an enormity of depth. "This time it's gonna get better. This time, I am not going to let IT." With the song complete and the tear-stained paper in hand, I took my poetry and placed it in my drawer.
Hours turned into days, and days into weeks as my father underwent surgery to remove the tumour lodged in his brain. His resilience served as a testament of my faith in miracles and his determination was nothing, if not inspiring.
Returning to old haunts, can often invoke profound sadness, especially places associated with the word CANCER. But truth be told, Centennial Park was an idyllic site to commemorate those who had lost their battle to this disease, as well as celebrate life after it. Where else, but in a verdant field could an event of this magnitude take place, all the while ironically symbolizing our fruitful attempts at conquering cancer. And with the assistance of countless volunteers of the Canadian Cancer Society, the admonition to put survivors first was evident.
Lined up along the track, where unlit luminaries with the names of hundreds of people and in an enclosure were the tents of those willing to "spend the night together." As I approached the survivor's area, the scores of individuals who had lined up to collect their blue Relay for Life t-shirts appeased me. Amongst the group, was none other than my father who donned his t-shirt with immense pride and all at once the euphoria of last year's news washed over me. "Mr. Abadesso your cancer is now in remission."
With the event well under way, I had the opportunity to perform my single for all the survivors present. Although it passed quickly and was all but four minutes of my life, it remains a highlight in my musical achievements and more importantly, a life altering experience. As I belted out the last few words, I realized this disease that was once distant and unthreatening, has let its imprint on the survivors, their families and friends. Yet with hope and determination, we will all carry on.
**The single this time, which I penned and recorded in response to my father's adversities with cancer, was subsequently promoted at the Relay for Life, whereby 100% of the proceeds went directly to the Canadian Cancer Society. If you would like to purchase the single you can do so by visiting www.jenniferabadesso.com and click on the Relay for Life 2006 dedication page.
**I would like to reiterate my thanks to all of those who supported my musical project, namely my parents and sponsors, Adiaspora.com, Correia Travel and R.M.A. Bookkeeping Services, along with the unwavering support of the Canadian Cancer Society, who embraced this project and gave me the opportunity to perform this single and share my message. Finally, without the continued support of the Portuguese community and media, my efforts would go unnoticed. Their desire to promote projects such as these, has been unfaltering and will not be forgotten. Special thanks to all of the individuals who purchased a single, for without your contributions this endeavour would not have been such a success!
Copyright © 2006 Jennifer Abadeso.com All rights reserved.
