Alumni Michelle Wood, and stage IV cancer survivor tells her Wind River story in the piece, BECAUSE I CAN!
I was talking to my husband the other evening reminding him of the upcoming Windriver Fund Raiser and 5k run on May 9, because he was not going to be able to be my “pit crew” at my Triathlon in June. After emphasizing he would still be there, he looked at me and simply stated “I don’t even understand why you’re doing it”? Without hesitation I responded “Because I Can”! It is my way of showing cancer I kicked it’s butt!
You see in August of 2013 I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Large B cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma with bone marrow involvement. That October I was told there was no sign of active disease. “This just doesn’t happen this way Michelle,” my Dr. explained. On December 26, 2013 I received my last round of chemo……but my journey does not end here.
Try to understand that once diagnosed, we are taught how to be sick, what to expect, what to look out for, when your hair will fallout. After remission, the medical world does not teaches us how to be well; and believe me, it’s a very frightening proposition. Often the support of loved ones and friends vanishes, because you don’t have cancer anymore, things can go back to “normal”, to the way they were. But that is just not the way this journey works.
Either by divine intervention or fairy magic I found Wind River. Doctors and medicine cured by cancer but Wind River is where I began to heal! The transformation I experienced that weekend, with my Wind River sisters, is beyond words, I am more open and whole person than I ever was before cancer. I am at peace.
Since 2007 Men and Women from all over the United States have come to Tryon North Carolina to participate in Wind River's Cancer Wellness Retreats and Programs at no charge to them. Help me give others the opportunity to heal and experience the love and care that I did.
I am asking for your support in helping me reach (or EXCEED) my funding raising goal.
It's easy: Click this secure on-line link to make a tax deductible donation:
Donate HERE to Michelle Wood's Walk for Wind River
I am honored to be running to raise funds for Wind River and with your help, we can give back to those that gave me so much. ... On May 9 I will be running BECAUSE I CAN!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
Michelle
I was talking to my husband the other evening reminding him of the upcoming Windriver Fund Raiser and 5k run on May 9, because he was not going to be able to be my “pit crew” at my Triathlon in June. After emphasizing he would still be there, he looked at me and simply stated “I don’t even understand why you’re doing it”? Without hesitation I responded “Because I Can”! It is my way of showing cancer I kicked it’s butt!
You see in August of 2013 I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Large B cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma with bone marrow involvement. That October I was told there was no sign of active disease. “This just doesn’t happen this way Michelle,” my Dr. explained. On December 26, 2013 I received my last round of chemo……but my journey does not end here.
Try to understand that once diagnosed, we are taught how to be sick, what to expect, what to look out for, when your hair will fallout. After remission, the medical world does not teaches us how to be well; and believe me, it’s a very frightening proposition. Often the support of loved ones and friends vanishes, because you don’t have cancer anymore, things can go back to “normal”, to the way they were. But that is just not the way this journey works.
Either by divine intervention or fairy magic I found Wind River. Doctors and medicine cured by cancer but Wind River is where I began to heal! The transformation I experienced that weekend, with my Wind River sisters, is beyond words, I am more open and whole person than I ever was before cancer. I am at peace.
Since 2007 Men and Women from all over the United States have come to Tryon North Carolina to participate in Wind River's Cancer Wellness Retreats and Programs at no charge to them. Help me give others the opportunity to heal and experience the love and care that I did.
I am asking for your support in helping me reach (or EXCEED) my funding raising goal.
It's easy: Click this secure on-line link to make a tax deductible donation:
Donate HERE to Michelle Wood's Walk for Wind River
I am honored to be running to raise funds for Wind River and with your help, we can give back to those that gave me so much. ... On May 9 I will be running BECAUSE I CAN!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
Michelle
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