February 2016 – The Lisa Chronicles

Last weekend I was on my way to a friends house and as I was coming out of my street I came to an intersection that I go through almost daily. That particular day there was a pretty serious car accident at this intersection. T-boned car with the drivers side smashed in. Not sure where the driver was, but there police and tow trucks still on the scene. As I turned the corner I started to get tears in my eyes almost instantly.

Today on the way home from work, I was driving up Yonge street and just before Finch there it was again, smashed in car, police cars and tow trucks. Again I teared up again. You may ask why. Here it is.

I wish I could forget the day I had my car accident on February 21, 2009, but I can’t. Maybe it has to do with the fact that it is so close to my birthday that the day just sticks out every year.

I read this quote a few months ago – “When you tell your story and it doesn’t make your cry, you know you have healed.” I can tell my story and not cry, so why am I not healed?

Well, today was a very similar kind of day that it was on that day, warm, sun shining, almost spring like already. I was up in Aurora visiting my friend and her family and we were out and about with the sun shining in our eyes. Somewhere between the sun shining and nightfall a blizzard started. Such a bad blizzard and I had to get home from Aurora.

Most of you already know the story, about ending up upside down in a ditch off the 404. Calling my mom while hanging upside still in my seat belt to tell her that I had been in an accident. Lots more to the story but that is not the point right now.

I think the point is that even with the craziness that was my accident, I survived. Other than some nerve damage in my left arm, only scars are the ones in my brain. The ones that keep remember this day every year.

I look at the t-bone from last week and think to myself, thank G-d I was the only one involved. Thankfully that as I was spinning out of control I didn’t hit another car, or a guardrail or worse. Thankfully I had a guardian angel that night who was there to take care of me.

After five years I thought I would be over it. That was when my car financing was up and when I paid my car off I thought good it is no longer attached to that date. Not so much.

Maybe next year. Maybe.

pink8

Last September I decided to participate in the Shoppers One Walk to Conquer Cancer raising money to benefit Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. No, I didn’t walk the 25 km one day event (I know many who did) but as a part of a sweep team. A few of my friends have been doing it for years, one a breast cancer survivor and one with a lot of reasons in her personal life and I decided it was time to be part of something bigger.

It was raining as we arrived downtown to decorate our sweep team van that would be pink1 spending the better part of the day in. Apparently it always rains. Maybe it is a good sign if it is raining, the higher power is speaking to us. Adversity makes you stronger. Sweep vans are driving the route ‘sweeping’ up walkers who need anything, a bottle of water, a snack, some moral support and a ride to the next stop on the route, we were there.

The sweep teams have themes and they decorate their vans and make them visible around the city. Our van was Halloween and I had a great time with all kinds of stickers, skeletons, even all kinds of candy in the van. It was going to be a great day with friends and supporting the walkers who are all there for their own reasons. That was evident every where you turned.

Groups of people walk together. They walk in memory of loved ones, survivors and those who didn’t survive. There are t-shirts with photos on them, women (and men) walking with bras on the outside of their shirts, ‘pink’ teams. Each and every one of the people I saw had a reason to be there. I don’t know anyone that has not been affected by cancer.

We drove around for a while after the day started and made our first pit stop visit. It was after that it was time to make our way to PMH. I was quite apprehensive to step out of the van when we first got there. If you have not experienced the walk before, the impact of arriving at the hospital takes your breath away.

Doctors, nurses, patients, families, they are there and they are cheering, loudly. Imagine pink3 coming into the stadium at the final stretch of the Olympic Marathon. A bit dramatic, but not really. There are signs, lots and lots of signs, up and down the barricades.

There was this amazing wall that said I’M WALKING FOR and there were hundreds, maybe thousands of names of survivors, people who lost their battles, family members, friends. It was completely overwhelming. I was crying even before I got out of car as we walked up to the hospital.

pink7 The doctors were standing on the steps of the hospital and there are bells ringing. that is very symbolic for Princess Margaret. The bell is called The Bravery Bell and if you don’t know what that is, it is the bell that you ring on your last day of chemo treatment. Maybe you know someone who has had the chance to ring the bravery bell.

The day was filled with great stories, and seeing people you know and shouting out the windows of the van, honking the horn and getting to yell at the top of your lungs, “let’s kick cancer in the ass”.

Lunch was at this amazing park and there were lots of fun vendors, give aways, and a chance for the walkers to catch their breath, put some band aids on their sore and aching feet and get up the strength to continue on.

Every time you make a decision to step out of your comfort zone and do something selfless instead of selfish, it makes you a better person. For a day I was there to support others who were being selfless and making a difference. One person can make a difference. There will always be fundraising needed in the world we live in. You can be a fundraiser and support with money and you can support with words of encouragement and be a part of the global picture of humanity.