This is the face of a woman who shows the world her best side: friendly, confident, brave. Even when her insides are wracked by nausea. Even when her legs feel Gumby-ish and her ch-ch-ch-cherry-bomb shoes are cushioning the stabby pains of neuropathy. Even when her hair’s gone missing, and her puffy cheeks bear silent witness to the cumulative effects of cancer-fighting pharmaceuticals.
This is the face of my friend Donna–a woman who’s fighting cancer with every fiber of her being, and who challenges every stereotype you might have about that battle. Peek behind her mirrored sunglasses, and you’ll see the fierce look of determination in this warrior woman’s eyes.
Donna’s the pinniped-loving member of my posse. You might remember her from previous blog entries, including the one where she advised Secretary Clinton to “Let yourself be great!” She’s not one to ask many favors, but she’ll always support your dreams.
This is the point where Donna’s chemo buddy enters the story. Had you already noticed the woman in blue, with the beaming smile and sunny yellow laces? That’s Marilyn. An inspiring woman in her own right, she’s been waging war against cancer for more than two years now. If you’d asked me beforehand, there’s no way I could’ve predicted what they’d accomplish together in Boston, last Sunday.
The sun was strong and the humidity was almost unbearable. Even worse, both women were feeling the lingering effects of their latest chemo treatments. But Donna agreed to walk a “mere” six miles of a 26.2 mile marathon, alongside Marilyn. She wasn’t entirely sure how (or if) she’d make it, but they’d pledged their mutual support for The Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund, and it’s not like either one of them to renege on a promise.
Check out the sweatshirt! When Donna spotted it at the starting line, she just about fell out into a fit of laughter. Happenstance, or a secret nod from her harbor seal friend, Freckles? Food for thought. For sure, it fueled a few miles’ worth of discussion, as Donna explained to Marilyn the longstanding joke between the two of us. (Donna: You need to take a pail of herring to Freckles! Me: No way! It’ll stink up my car! Donna: Then roll down the window…let him smell you coming!“)
Marilyn’s granddaughter, Molly. Posted with her mommy’s permission.
Donna followed through on her promise, and then some! She walked the entire 26.2-mile route with Marilyn–one foot in front of the other, from Hopkinton School to Fenway Park, to the top of Heartbreak Hill and around the corner, until (“Don’t ask me to tell you our time”) they finally crossed the finish line at Copley Square.
This is the medal they placed around her neck last Sunday–a token of achievement for having accomplished something very few people manage, even when they’re healthy. It symbolizes the whole of her life: refusing to run from her diagnosis, but electing, instead, to move forward every day with a healthy sense of humor, generosity, and positive intentions.
Author Brené Brown once said, “You can’t get to courage without walking through vulnerability.” My friend Donna lives this quote every day, and this is her race to win.
❤️
<3 <3
You have got to love this woman’s determination.
YES! Gotta love everything about her. She’s a keeper!
Some might describe your friend as a firecracker. An understatement, of course. Her heart, spirit and guts can only be measured in megatons.
You’ve captured her essence. 🙂
amazing story. thanks for sharing.
As writers, we look to people like her for our best stories, don’t we? But she is my friend, first and foremost–a source of boundless inspiration, adventures, and joy.
My mom was the same; bravely fighting stage 4 lymphoma from 1980 to 1989. I saw her bravery and I was allowed to see her fear. She was tough through all the awful tests – bone marrow, lung etc as the disease took over. My mother taught me a lot during those 8 years of cancer and chemo and other strong drugs – and we shared all of the many highs and lows of it. We lost her in 1989 – when she was the same age I am now. When people like my mother and your friend (and we one day) are faced with the truth of things, it is how we face our family and friends – how we open ourselves to them, that might just give them the ability to handle whatever the future brings for them as well. It is a hard hard task to be brave. And it is okay to lean on others when that bravery is tested again and again.
I am weeping, Margaret. Thank you for transforming your own pain into earned wisdom, shared so freely with me and everyone who reads this. It’s a gift that I hold dear.
Thank you, Melodye. I wish your friend peace within her body and her spirit.
True hero. Great story. Wishing all the best for her.
She is the hero of her own life, and that of many friends. Thanks for the well wishes…I will pass them along to her.
what a lovely lady…and an inspiration for us all. Wish we could all be blessed with such an awesome friend…and I agree.. put those windows down so Freckles smells ya comin’ ?
My Daddy always said ‘life is for living’…sounds like she is celebrating every moment. <3
Hahahaha, I don’t know about the herring…well, I do, but I’ve already said my piece.
Your Daddy is exactly right. Donna leaves nothing on the table. It’s a veritable feast, just being her friend.
What an incredible woman. I applaud you for your fighting spirit. You’ve got this. And what a wonderful friend you are, Melodye. Hugs to you both.
Remarkable, isn’t she? It’s an honor to be her friend.
*Hugs in return*