Fighting Cancer with Compassion

The summer of 2009 changed my life, my perspective, and my whole approach to living it. On June 6th my girlfriend was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. It came to me as quite a shock since she's a non-smoker, she's a competitive student-athlete, and she was and is only 21 years-old. Ever since that day I've tried to be a foundation for her to lean on, build upon and even break down on, and since that summer I've filled the role of all three, providing some sense of stability through the highs and the lows of this fight. Thankfully she's made amazing progress on her recovery to full health, bravely enduring a staggering 13 rounds (and counting) of chemotherapy.

The bad news is that my girlfriend is still battling lung cancer, the good news is that she's recovering, and through this battle we've discovered the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, which has been a tremendous source of information, encouragement and support to us. A world-class facility for research, as well as support, they expect to make significant contributions towards ending lung cancer in our lifetime through their experience, commitment, and a rigorous, yet balanced approach to research. Recognizing the equal importance of early detection and treatment options, the foundation and its researchers pour an equally endless amount of energy into making early detection and screening accessible to all.

The foundation is also active in helping individuals organize walks and runs throughout the country and world to spread awareness, to educate, and to raise funds to fight this devastating disease. Last week my girlfriend, myself, and our close friends and family organized one such event in Berkeley, that helped us raise over $40,000.

Jill and I kicking off Jog for Jill, February 7, 2010

The final takeaway I want to leave you with, is that difficult times can catch you when you least expect them. In my girlfriend's case, it's a life-threatening illness that no-one, least of all herself, would ever have thought she would have to fight. I'm afraid that there will come a time in everyone's lives when they will be hit with something difficult, almost impossible and out of nowhere, but I hope this story will, in some small way, help you realize that people aren't alone and that no matter how rare or threatening a situation may be, there will always be others who will help see you through it.

I feel lucky that I could be one of those people for my girlfriend, and although these are terrible experiences for anyone to have to deal with, I know that when the time comes, you will have the compassion, love, and support to be that for someone you love.

-Bryce