They brought Relay to me!
Current mood: surprised

It's Friday night and there are Relay For Life events on football fields all over the nation.  During Relay "season" which is from mid-March to early June, communities across the nation, and several in foreign countries gather together for Relay.

My local Relay was a couple of weeks ago and I was unable to attend. Tonight, some very dear Relay friends brought Relay to me.  Members of the Heroes of Hope Workgroup, who are attending a workgroup meeting in Dallas this weekend, got together and drove from Dallas to bring Relay to me.  They flew into Dallas early to attend "MY" Relay.  99% of those attending my Relay were cancer survivors.  They were from Missouri, Oklahoma, the Austin area, the Houston area, and the Dallas area.

"Carla's" Relay had a great planning committee.  They quickly decorated my hospital room with balloons, purple lights and put out luminaria bags.  We took a "team" photo.  Then all survivors were honored. 

They brought me gifts and a photo album with photos from their Relays.  It was wonderful.

Then we had a Luminaria ceremony.  The Luminaria bags were lit.  (Thank goodness for those battery operated votive candles, otherwise we would have set off the fire alarm!) The caregiver extraordinaire in attendance spoke during our Luminaria ceremony.  LuAnn you're a true blessing to cancer survivors everywhere.

We goofed around and visited for a bit.  Then we all got our Fight Back flags and joined hands and said a prayer.

It was the best Relay I've attended this year (the only one so far)!  We didn't raise a lot of money, but we did raise more awareness about Relay.  I've been sharing Relay with the "night staff" and answering their questions about Relay and all the rucous in Room 1179!

We did CELEBRATE Survivors...cancer survivors!  We also celebrated my surviving the automobile accident.  (I was in a head-on collision with a cement mixer on March 12, 2008.)

It was so special and will always be a wonderful memory of Relay.  Thanks LuAnn, Sheila, Patti, Thelma, Carl, Sara and Cindy!

Tonight there was an unscheduled Relay event that won't be counted among the 4500+ events that will happen this year, but for me it is the one that means the most to me!  Get a few passionate Relayers and cancer survivors together and the true spirit and meaning of Relay will be evident!

My Relay For Life "family" has been the best during my time in the hospital...sending cards, calling to check on me, sending flowers, visiting, sending me little gifts....you are all HEROES to me.