The synonym of heartbreak

Hello readers and friends---today I'm sharing a different kind of post, written by my friend and co-worker, Hasti. When I learned that Hasti was named a Woman of the Year candidate by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I wasn't surprised at all, because Hasti's heart is as big as her smile. She is one of the kindest and most hardworking women I know, and I'm honored to call her a friend and work with her on a daily basis. Hasti is raising money to benefit those fighting cancer---and below is her story...


The first time the word cancer truly affected me I was about 12 years old, standing next to my grandfather's hospital bed praying for him to wake up and be ok. I was in Santa Barbara for the summer staying with my grandparents when one night I woke up to baba being taken to the hospital. He wasn't feeling well and it was a very scary night. I remember hearing the word cancer so clearly that next morning. It was just me and my uncle in the ICU room with him when the doctor explained it could be cancer. The word I held on to was "could!" It made it seem less certain. Unfortunately it was certain. My grandfather whom I loved with all of my heart and soul, who taught me how to read newspapers before other kids could even read children's books, who carried me on his shoulders to the park, who would buy me books that were much too complex for my age, who was the only person to call me "my daughter," had advanced cancer. He left us long before I was ready to say goodbye. He was young, only in his mid-70s, and I wanted him to keep teaching me how to be a writer and how to be so cool, calm and collected. I wanted to keep growing up with the most intellectual man I have known helping me along the way. I didn't get that chance, but our short time together has affected me more than I could have ever imagined at 13 when I lost him.  

My grandpa worked in communications in a job very similar to my current position. He was adored by many. I'll never forget my other grandfather crying the day we lost him. That's the kind of man he was. He was one of my greatest role models and there isn't a day when I don't wonder how much more he would have taught me if he had been around a few more years. I wonder how he would've loved that I pursued journalism after watching him read newspapers and learning to read the news with him. I wonder if he would be proud of me. 15 years since his passing and I still get choked up writing about him. 

I hate cancer. It is a nasty word with an awful meaning. Since my grandpa's death I've known many others with cancer. I've lost loved ones, both of my grandfathers and celebrated with others who beat that awful disease. Now cancer is something I help fight. As a writer for Texas Children's Hospital, I try to communicate the great work of our incredible staff members who are helping kids beat cancer every day. Most recently, I am fighting cancer by helping raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. As a candidate for Woman of the Year, I've vowed to raise money to fund research that will hopefully one day eradicate blood cancers and in the meanwhile, the money will help families suffering after hearing the devastating diagnosis. The man and woman of the year campaign is a competition between 10 men and 10 women who spend 10 weeks raising as much money as possible for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The winners are the man and woman who raise the most. 

This Friday, May 30th, my fundraising efforts will be over but no matter the result, there will be one little boy who I will forever remember. His name is James and his family found out he had leukemia just as they were getting ready to embark on a family trip.  They were expecting their second baby and James was just an infant. They were in for the journey of a lifetime and just a few years later, little James is cancer free and has been named the boy of the year. He and his family have vowed to share their story to help raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society which they credit with helping save their son's life. I have vowed to campaign in James' honor. He has touched by life and will forever be the best part of my 10-week campaign. 

What are you doing today to help kids like James? Here's your chance to join the fight. From now until Friday at 5PM, please donate as little or as much as you can. Every dollar is one step closer to finding a cure. What I've learned from my grandfather's time here is that your impact on other lives is all you leave behind. I hope I am able to make a difference in someone's life.

Click here to donate: 
http://www.mwoy.org/pages/txg/houston14/htaghi
 
-Hasti Taghi