I have had a dream since I was 14 & Dreams really do come true. When I was 14 I met a friend who had sarcoma. She was beautiful. She did not look like a cancer patient, and she never acted like she was sick... she was courageous. When i met Vanessa she already had her leg amputated and had a prosthetic leg in place. She was a cheerleader from New Mexico who had been treating the pain in her leg with a heating pad thinking it was a pulled muscle from practice.... by the time she was diagnosed they had to take her leg.... She had been on chemo for almost 6 months when I met her. She had sunny eyes, a cheerful heart, and she was the bravest person I had ever met. She encouraged me to be brave, to have faith, and to find laughter even in the hard days. Vanessa fought cancer for another 3 years. She married her high school sweetheart at 16. The tumors had spread to her chest and lungs... several at a time...she would have them removed and have chest tubes in- But I kid you not... The girl remained positive. She died when we were 17. The tumors had spread to her brain and there was nothing they could do. She fought until the end and her strength was something that came from somewhere else. She was her mothers only daughter.... and her Mom would send me a calander every year from the Hot Air balloon Festival... because it was Vanessas favorite. My memory of her is crystal clear... How she prayed, Her laugh, How she encouraged me, How much she loved McDonalds chicken nuggets with BBQ sauce, How much stronger she was than me and wiser even though we were the same age..and most of all.... How much she loved going to the Hot Air Balloon Festival every year in her hometown of Albuquerque NM. She would say ... I love the festival more than my birthday. :) We always talked about going together someday. She wanted to show me the beauty of the balloons against the Albuquerque sky. WELL....This weekend ( 17 years later) I am going to the Hot Air Balloon Festival. Vanessa will be in my heart always. She taught me so much, she shared chunks of her heart with me to encourage me even when she was the one who had more to complain about than anyone I ever met! I was a hot mess, and she loved me where I was at. She scooped me up and befriended me. I really do believe the best spot you can have in life is sitting in the front row of someone elses dreams. Choosing to cheer them on and encourage them... That is what she taught me and it has made all the difference in my life. I choose to be the cheerleader she was to me in others lives. I choose to encourage and have faith... So this weekend... is for you Vanessa and for all the difference you made in my life. I finally get to see the beauty of the balloons. Bright and beautiful against the Albuquerque Sky. Be encouraged friends... Be brave, Love others where they are, You are capable.... “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. ” – Harriet Tubman
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 12:09:19 +0000
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