Lawrence, KS Hy-Vee Lemonade Stand from June 2009With September and Childhood Cancer Awareness Month upon us, I am getting out to as many events and speaking engagements as possible to raise the profile of childhood cancer. These events often bring memories of Alex to the surface, allowing me to reflect on the time that has passed, and what I have learned about childhood cancer, and especially life over the passed 10 years. I wanted to share a recent experience with you, a trip to Kansas City, worth reflecting upon.
I went to Kansas City, which is the home to many of ALSF’s greatest supporters, to attend an event entitled Heroes and Halos. The event was held on National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day, Saturday, September 12, on the farm of Ken Waldock. Ken, who had come upon a lemonade stand held by one of our volunteers, decided to hold a day of celebration for families of children who have or had cancer. It was a day of fun, entertainment and amazing food that brought together over 300 people in the area who have been affected by the disease.
As always, I was honored to represent the foundation, but this event represented a special situation for me. As you know, I am Alex’s mom, and I have experienced what children with cancer go through firsthand. I have seen the sadness, worry and heartache that accompany us on the journey. It is a journey that is all too familiar to the attendees at the Heroes and Halos event. What this event reminded me of however, is something far removed from that anguish – it’s that for every tear there are many more smiles, for every worry there are many more carefree days, and for each moment that our hearts ache, there are even more moments when it soars. It is sometimes hard to imagine that anything positive can come out of something as awful as childhood cancer. I know that I didn’t believe it when thirteen years ago my daughter Alex spent her first birthday in the ICU instead of at home eating her first slice of birthday cake. In fact, I probably would have had some choice words for anyone who tried to tell me that anything good could come out of my baby’s suffering. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to learn this through my daughter, Alex showed me through the way she lived the next 7 years of her life and the legacy of hope she left behind.
The Heroes and Halos event too taught me that even in the seemingly worst of situations, there are reasons to smile. Like so many of the children present at the event, Alex taught me about helping others and overcoming challenges. She taught me about believing in dreams, even if they seem impossible. She lived life to the fullest each day and made the best of any situation. Living with childhood cancer taught me that life is what you make of it, and that for all the bad in life, it is far better to focus on the good.
The truth of the matter is, there are tens of thousands of children who are battling cancer or have battled cancer with the same determination, grace, and courage that Alex did. I had the immense pleasure of meeting many of them, and their families last weekend. Alex was the spark that started this lemonade movement to find a cure, but these children are the inspiration to continue in her memory. Thank you to everyone in Kansas City for allowing me to not only remember how important the battle against childhood cancer is, but how important it is to appreciate every day too.
- Liz Scott, Alex's Mother
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5 comments:
This is such an absolutely beautiful and inspiring message. Sometimes it's hard to remember that there are still things to remain positive about in situations like this.
Thank you for this and for everything that you do.
Liz -- THANK YOU so, so much for attending Heroes & Halos last week! It was truly an honor to have you at the event and it made the day even more special for all the families that attended! I'm glad you got to see the smiles of our littlest heroes enjoying and celebrating National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day. It was a pleasure to meet you. What Alex started and your family has continued has brought hope to so many children and their families that there is, and will be, better treatments that will someday lead to a a CURE! Thanks again! (p.s. The pic above is survivor Carson at a ALSF event with his friends. Carson was also at Heroes & Halos) -- Kara Cunningham
I did not realize until I read your speech that it has been 6yrs since your daughters passing. I learned of Alex and her Lemonade during the Preakness with AfleetAlex(I live in Maryland) I think I spelled that right anyway I want to say to you be strong. My oldest sister died from Renal Kidney Failure a condition she had all of her life. I remember going to hospitals to see her with my mom, driving to Cincinnati Childrens Hospital or to Barneys Children Medical Center in Dayton Ohio hoping she would get better. She has a daughter(my oldest niece she has the same medical conditon as her mom. The parents of a young man from Cincinnati who did not want to live anymore Donated his Organs and she received his kidney, Thank You) but she never got better, she passed away in 1992. I think of the happy times always with my sister I had her for 28yrs and I tell my son, her nephew, all about her so he knows what type of person she was. That way she will always be apart of the family and not just some distant memory of long ago. Be Blessed and before Rita's close I have to get my Alexs' Lemonade Water Ice....Take Care...Sarah
What a beautiful and inspirational blog. I thank you so much for sharing this. I do everything I can to help not just because I want to, but also because I read all of these stories from parents and I think about my daughter and what if I was in that position with her. This is truly one of the greatest foundations I know of.
The Lemonade Stand is so cute. I love your blog and your mission.
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