Why I Relay--the Story of the Daughter of a Breast Cancer Survivor

Hello to all my loved ones,

As many of you may know, I am on the Steering Committee for Relay for Life at my college, St. Louis University. Relay For Life is the signature event of the American Cancer Society which helps create a world with less cancer and more birthdays by helping people get well, helping people stay well, finding cures, and fighting back. I've chosen to make the American Cancer Society the official sponsor of my birthday because I know that they are doing such great work to make sure that future generations will live in a cancer free world.

All of you know that my life has been touched by cancer. In January 2001, my mom and dad called my brother Tom and me into the living room. We'd just gotten back from Mass and it appeared to us that we would be having a very serious conversation. I don't know what Tom was thinking, but as a little ten-year-old in whom Catholic Guilt had already been instilled, I wracked my brain trying to think of something that could have gotten me into trouble. As far as I knew, Tom and I hadn't bitten each other between Mass and then so we were in the clear. But in a few minutes I was about to find out that it wasn't just me who was in trouble; it was my whole family. My mom had just found out that she had breast cancer and would be having a lumpectomy on Valentine's Day and then would go through several treatments of chemotherapy and radiation. When my parents had called me into the living room, I thought I was in trouble, but this was a different kind of trouble than I could have ever expected. This kind of trouble was far worse because I had done nothing to cause this and even worse, there was NOTHING I COULD DO TO FIX IT.

I don't think I understood exactly what cancer meant. I knew it was bad and that my mom was sick, but she was sick for a couple of months as opposed to a few days and she would get better. Of course she would get better. She's my mom. But the thing is this: Cancer Kills. And Cancer Hurts. And Cancer does everything it can to tear families apart and ruin the lives we have worked so hard for. My mom could have died. I thank God every day that she caught that lump in her breast in time and that she had the best doctors in the world.

But mostly,

I thank God every day for all of YOU. My strongest memories of this time are of my family and friends taking care of my brothers and me. People would take Tom, Chris and me to the movies or to the zoo or to the batting cages the day of and the day after my mom's treatments. On my mom's birthday, June 8th, 2001, I was with my Uncle Dan because my mom had just had a chemo treatment the day before. We were sitting outside Stella's batting cages eating ice cream and the sun was shining so brightly. We all knew we were together because of my mom, this moment wouldn't have happened without her. As we sat there, Uncle Danny said, "The sun always shines on your mom's birthday." And it really does. Because it's my mom and you all know that she is strong and you all know that she is brave and you all know that she is LOUD and there is no way in hell that she would let cancer kick her ass without a fight!

I know what my mom's time with cancer was like for me, as her daughter. What I have never known is what it was like for you all, as her brothers, her nieces, her nephews, her cousins, her friends. I can't imagine what you were all thinking because I'm sure that you all understood much better than I could have what cancer meant. And I can only know that it hurt and that it was sad and painful and terrifying because that's what cancer is. But you all also know that it brought us all together. Because I wouldn't have had that day on the bench with Uncle Danny if it hadn't happened, and I wouldn't have gone to Michigan City with the Careys. and I wouldn't have been to the movies with Uncle John, and out to dinner with Uncle Marty, and I wouldn't have had all those delicious dinners (like the pizza from the Hochs and the Portillo's from the Nagels) from all those caring people in Riverside who took care of us when we couldn't take care of ourselves by ourselves.

Now here I am. I am twenty years old and on February 14th, 2011 my mom became a TEN YEAR BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR!!! And ten years ago when I was called into the living room and told about my mom's cancer there was nothing I could do about it but now there is. Now I can help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays through Relay for Life. I want to make sure that my daughter doesn't ever have to walk into the bathroom and see her mom with tears streaming down her face and hair falling out. I want to work so that cancer does not touch my life or the lives of the people I love ever again.

I have chosen to make the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life the official sponsor of my birthday and I am asking you to do the same. At least one member of my team will be walking from 6PM-6AM on April 16th-17th because cancer never sleeps and neither do we until we find a cure. My mom will be walking in the survivor's lap and I will be walking to meet her.

Will you help me fight back? Here is the link to SLU Relay's Website:

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=31868

You can search for me, Hilary Korabik. If you could just donate $5 and forward this to 5 people asking for $5 I would appreciate it so much! Here is a video from the American Cancer Society:

>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTLdrHNei3M

Thank you so much for your time! I love you all and will see you soon,

Hilary