Changing the Facts

At the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night awards event a few weeks ago, I met a beautiful woman about my age. From across the hall, crowded with people sipping wine from plastic cups and munching on bruschetta, crudite, and cheese cubes, I'd noticed a white lily, signifying survivorship, pinned to her blouse. My reaction: "Wow, is she gorgeous. How can someone so beautiful have cancer? Right, cancer attacks you on the inside."

I introduced myself to V. and her boyfriend. She has a form of Non Hodgkin Lymphoma, which her doctors think may have been caused by the treatments she received to cure a childhood cancer. She is not yet in remission. We chatted for a while, and I mingled my way over to the appetizer table.

The organizers announced the presentation would begin in five minutes, and that food was not allowed in the auditorium. Since I hadn't eaten dinner, I huddled near a potted plant and crammed cheese cubes into my mouth. My mouth full, someone tapped me on the shoulder. V.'s boyfriend had come back into the hallway to tell me they'd saved a seat for me since I was attending alone.

I thanked him and joined the pair. The ceremony began. One of the first presenters spoke of her inspiration for becoming involved with the association--her sister-in-law, who was battling Non Hodgkin Lymphoma. I'd been trying to hold back the tears all evening and gave up. V., sitting next to me, reached over and gripped my hand. She was crying too. To her, the story wasn't about "someone else's" life.