While I was at the COH with Grandma Sharon, a great and equally amazing friend, we met several people while waiting for tests and doctors. While sitting in the waiting room of the Brawerman Clinic 2A, there was a woman who sat adjacent to us and every time a couple came into the waiting room looking for a spot, we would invite her to sit next to us so the couple could sit together. Before her appointment, we became friendly.... her name was Reesa, a breast cancer survivor who was still going through treatments, but had recently lost her best girl friend to colon cancer. As we continued to talk I told her that March was kidney and colorectal cancer awareness month and as I looked on my purse strap (the place I put all my Share the Hope bracelets)I saw the perfect one - it was like fate. I had just completed a STH bracelet with pink and blue beads with a survivor ring. I took it off my bag and looked at Reesa and said "I want to give you a present. This is a Share the Hope bracelet. The pink symbolizes your strength in fighting breast cancer and the blue is for colorectal cancer, in memory of your best friend. Wear this as long as you need the hope and when you don't need the hope and meet someone who needs it more, you pass on the bracelet and share the story with us." I put it on her wrist, she started to cry....... It was a simple gift that had an ever lasting impact for her.
But that wasn't the only encounter that I had at COH that day. As I was walking to the vending machine to grab a snack while I was waiting for my gyno appointment, a woman stopped me and said "Forgive me, I'm not starting at your breasts, but I wanted to ask what your shirt said." I smiled at her and responded "It's UCAAN, the organization that I started after my own personal battle with cancer twice." The young woman smiled and asked for a card. I told her I had one in my purse, so we walked back into the waiting room area and I sat next to the two women. As we all spoke, they told me that they both were survivors of Multiple Myeloma, and one of them was currently battling. When I asked them what their favorite colors were, they both responded "Red!" I quickly went to my trusty bag and found two gorgeous red bracelets, I went back to my new found friends both named Karen and I told them the story about the Share the Hope bracelets and put one on each of them. They smiled, hugged and thanked me. I handed them my card and soon after they were called back into their appointment. :)
Once again, that wasn't the last group of survivors I met and gave gifts of hope to, there was one more. As Grandma Sharon and I patiently waited for my name to be called, a woman walked into our waiting room pushing an elderly woman. She looked frail but sweet. They sat right next to us and I couldn't help but talk to the woman in the wheelchair - something drew me to talk to her. I asked her how her day was and she responded with little enthusiasm "It's ok..." Then I asked her what she was at COH for, she responded the usual answer "for my cancer, it's killing me.." I could see the loss of hope in her eyes, that's probably the saddest thing to see in another person... at least for me. I looked at the woman who seemed to be her caregiver, possibly her daughter, and she looked so sad. I reached for the elderly woman's hand and asked her what she had - she had a very rare form of gynecological cancer and felt that she was on her way out. I looked at her and told her my story, about my battle with cancer, when I was given little chance to survive. I asked her what her favorite color was and told her that I had a gift for her. She responded in a sweet voice "Blue". I pulled a bracelet once again off of my purse and placed it around her wrist. I told her about the meaning of the bracelet and what she was meant to do with it, her eyes lightened up and she smiled. She was so appreciative and excited. I then turned to her daughter, yes she was (her mom confirmed that!) and gave her a bracelet as well. Then, they were called back by one of the nurses...... She left the waiting room, a much stronger woman than when she came in and it was apparent.
So...... Normally when I give away bracelets and the UCAAN business cards, I rarely ever hear back from one of the survivors. But every once in awhile I do and when I do the stories that they share tend to bring tears to my eyes. But last night, as I was out with friends at my favorite Dueling Piano show, I received a touching email that brought tears to my eyes right at the table. It was from Karen and was titled "Thank you for the bracelet" and it read:
"I just wanted to tell you what a joy it was to meet you at City of Hope on Monday when I was there with my friend Karen for her treatment with multiple myeloma. We were both so blessed with the bracelets and I have told many people about the gift you gave us. Thank you. I looked at your website and was thrilled to see a photo of you with my good friend and fellow myeloma warrior Valerie Stevenson. I knew going to City of Hope would be difficult for me as she was the last person I came to see before she passed away last July but I felt her presence everywhere. Her photo was in the infusion room and the nurses spoke of her so fondly and then to meet you and know she was also a friend of your was just awesome. So my little Val was with me that day and I miss her a lot but she touched my heart in a special way as did you. Keep up the wonderful work you are doing. Hugs and Blessings." - Karen R., Multiple Myeloma Survivor
(I attached a photo of myself and Val from about a year ago.)
When I read the letter, before opening the picture I prayed to God "Please don't let it be my friend Valerie, please don't let it be her...." I opened the photo to see my friend Valerie before me with my new friend Karen. I started to cry, and recalled the last time that we had spoken, in April of last year at the bone marrow transplant reunion celebration with my friend Sarah as well. I remember seeing Valerie then and hearing her tell me that the cancer had returned and she was back to treatments again, but she had strength, support and hope. I really thought when I saw her that she would make it, and was so devastated last night to find out that she didn't and she passed on last July without me having any idea. :(
Valerie is featured on our Website, with her survivor story and on our brochure, she is also in this picture below.
From the City of Hope website, Valerie is mentioned: "Valerie Stevenson, a research scientist who diagnosed her own cancer and later volunteered to take part in an innovative clinical trial. “I asked Dr. Jeffrey Wong, City of Hope’s head of radiation oncology, whose idea it was to test Helical TomoTherapy on multiple myeloma. He convinced the manufacturer the test should be done, and he did the work to make it happen at City of Hope. When he told me that, I teared up. Dr. Wong is my hero".”
*Valerie and I in 2008, getting chemo together*In Loving Memory Of
VALERIE MARIE STEVENSON Feb. 17, 1954 - July 12, 2011 Valerie lost her courageous 6 year battle with Multiple Myeloma, (Bone Marrow Cancer) on Tuesday July 12, 2011. She died peacefully in her sleep at home after a weekend filled with love and laughter from visiting family and friends. Born in San Bernardino, she is the only child of Joe and Rita Toland of Fontana and lived her whole life in the Inland Empire, the last 19 years in Yucaipa. Valerie attended Fontana High School and held a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in biology from U.C.R. She had a long career as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist and retired from the Loma Linda V.A. Hospital in 2006. She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Michael Stevenson. Valerie was a very sociable person who loved animals, (especially her dogs), traveling, making jewelry and meeting new people. Loved by everyone who knew her Valerie became instant friends with anyone she met. She was an advocate for the International Myeloma Foundation, (IMF) and helped many fellow patients who were struggling with this disease. Instead of flowers, Valerie requested that donations be made in her memory to the I.M.F. Online - donate.myeloma.org, or by Phone - 1.800.452.2873. There will be a Monday evening vigil at 7:00 pm July 25, 2011 at St. Frances X. Cabrini Catholic Church, 12687 California St. Yucaipa. A memorial mass will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday July 26, 2011. A reception will follow at the church.
**************************
As much as I am not ready to let go of my dear friend Valerie, I can always remember the amazing ways that she helped others, her love for making jewelry (just like me) and her passion to help people no matter how sick she was. Valerie, you will be missed and I know you are up there in heaven looking down on all of us and having a ball with our other fallen angels!
Even if you're no longer here on earth, you're still a Survivor to me!
We've got a special picture of you here at our office.
Love you!
