Typically I do not write about things so close to my heart on the internet. I like being a dark brooding enigma or an internet mystery as someone once referred to me. Not that I ashamed of myself, but sometimes I like to talk about events with my honest opinion and not have everyone that I know read it. So here (because someone that matters a great deal says I need to open up more) is an honest attempt to post something heartfelt and not be a smark for once.
As most people that take their time to read this will be from twitter you may or may not know that I follow a person that goes by the moniker @followheidi. I also try to do my fair share of linking here and bringing her more views, because I really believe in what she does. Heidi (@followheidi) is a representative of the Vera Bradley Foundation and she works at promoting awareness of breast cancer. Her twitter bio reads "A survivor who wants to build awareness for breast cancer research - and stop this disease so her children are safe" That pretty much sums up what an amazing person she is and I know personally through @ replies and direct messages just how sweet she really is. Every time I am feeling down and post something on twitter that relates to self loathing brooding emo Xavier I can pretty much count on seeing something positive from her about me that makes me feel better. She always seems to find a light switch in the dark. If you look at her messages to people you can see that I am no special case; that is just who she is; a strong person trying to prop the rest of us up when we feel bad. The world would be a lot better place with more like Heidi.
Cancer is a subject that hits very hard for me. Most people that follow me have no idea that I lost both my grandmother in 2002 and grandfather in 2006 to cancer. In my first and last semester of college actually, and I also have a friend Emily that is still on the recovery process from blood cancer. I have never been close with my mother and haven't seen her in over 10 years (which is another story), so I have always shared a close bond with my paternal grandparents. Losing my grandmother was the most difficult thing I have ever endured; she was like my best friend and mother. It changed me; it rocked my foundation to my core and I came out of that event a completely different person.
The only thing that I can say has ever compared to affecting me like that is when I had Diabetic Keidoacidosis and almost died in 2007. A week in the ICU will do that though. The only solace that I can take in the passing of both my grandparents is the fact that I was there with both of them in the last days. I had a conversation with my grandmother the last time I actually talked to her and I thanked her for everything she had ever done for me. I thanked her for being there to shape me to be a good person. For being a mother, for being my friend and I told her that I loved her and I didn't know what I would do without her. She told me that I would have to be a strong one and I have tried my best ever since to be strong for those that need me.
The moral of the story is I want to help people like @followheidi get their message out so hopefully they can find a cure for cancer and even though I didn't lose anyone to breast cancer specifically I never want a family to have to feel the pain of losing someone to a terminal disease. I don't want to have to see a twenty year old girl stay in her house for a year because her bone marrow transplant has left her with no immune system. Kids shouldn't have to go to Chemotherapy, all cancer is bad and Heidi is out there doing something about it
So in closing please take the time to do something even if it is to just retweet this simple message "check out @followheidi, support those that fight against cancer, it is good for you"
Who knows your one tweet could have a ripple effect that saves somebody.
This post the person I chose to highlight is pretty obvious so I will cut the normal chatter and here is her links
http://www.twiiter.com/followheidi
http://www.verabradleyfoundation.blogspot.com
Thanks for reading this and take care of yourselves
If you aren’t already follow me at:
http://www.twitter.com/xaviermagnus
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