I met Sarah in elementary school. We've been friends for 25 years and she's been one of the most incredible friends a person could ask for. Sarah is fun, funny, smart, beautiful, loyal, honest and dependable. She lights up the room with her vivacious energy and to know her is to love her.
Last year she headed out to California for a new adventure. We were all sad to see her go but hopeful and excited about her change. Almost immediately, she began seeing a doctor for a nagging pain in her right arm. She thought it might be a bad case of carpel tunnel. Unfortunately, it wasn't. It turned out to be a rare cancer. The tumor was aggressive and diagnosed a Stage 3. She would have to immediately undergo an intensive inpatient chemotherapy schedule and begin a ferocious battle for her life.
She was 3,000 miles away from home. She was given the scariest news anyone can get. And there she was, strong as a rock and ready to take it on. There was never a moment that she believed she wouldn't beat it. As everyone that loved her stood on the sidelines, feeling shocked and helpless, I think we all drew our strength from her. From her absolute fearlessness. From her resiliance. From her unshakable positivity. Cancer had met its match and there was no way it would win.
Today she has some scars. She lost her hair. She has a tattoo with her diagnosis date but ...she's back. She's cancer-free. She beat the shit out of that awful disease. There's a lot of stuff written about cancer. How it robs people of who they were, how hard it is to bounce back. That's not the case with Sarah. She never surrendered to statistics or let cancer dictate what she could or couldn't do. She was running (!) to her raditaiton appoinments.... Her doctor couldn't believe it. but anyone who knows her could.
Tomorrow she will celebrate a special birthday. The end of a hard year and the start of a beautiful and healthy one. I am so grateful to have her in my life - her friendship is an amazing gift.
Sarah, I hope every single one of your birthday wishes comes true. I love you. Happy Birthday ~*!
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