Amy Carver
Gaspereaux Lake NS
Canada
There were a lot of challenges, first off the fact I was travelling from Antigonish to Halifax for blood cancer treatments. You feel out of the loop because it's not your home hospital, but it's still a welcoming place. I was in hospital 10 days before my diagnosis, it was really quick. It went from not feeling good, to 'you have lymphoma' to 'let's start chemo' and there we go. So it was fast and furious but I think being away from home was the most difficult. I didn't really know anyone with a blood cancer prior to, so once you start getting to know people with a blood cancer, you know how many there are out there, so you don't feel as alone.
My life's been changed in many different ways, how I think about things has changed, I don't dwell on the past. I try to spend as much time with my friends and family versus I can see you guys tomorrow & putting things off. I tend to live more in the now, versus in the future. I was always more of a dreamer, but now I'm like 'No we're doing this now'.
You realize how many people are actually there for you when you need them, which I appreciate a lot.
I've met so many more people through LLSC and the Lodge that Gives that I'm so thankful for it because I don't know how I would have got through a lot of it without that support.
I was inspired to join Light The Night after hearing about it from Crystal at LLSC. It sounded like such a great way to be part of something bigger than blood cancer and to contribute to the fight to end blood cancers. We started off as just “The Lymph Busters” for our first year, and became “The Lymph Busters: gNOme more cancer” for our second to bring in our family joke about gnomes!
The walk inspired me to be part of this big family and to honor those who have battled before me, those presently in battle and those who will battle after me.
Light The Night means everything to me! It is a night of celebrations! We honor those that we have lost and rise up with the survivors. The lantern lighting ceremony is beautiful and you really get to see the amount of support that is with you. There is something for everyone from the small children to the adults. Everyone is emotional but happy!