Hopkins 4K for Cancer

July 17, 2006

Day Off
Talk about putting things in perspective. I think all of us realized how completely absurd our own physical complaints are after we met Serene today. The AmeriCorps in Cedar City set us up with the most incredible project that I think every 4ker would agree was our best spent Day Off on the entire trip. We met the AmeriCorps volunteers at a local park and were then driven out of the city to a neighborhood where houses were surrounded by red, dry dirt and desert-like bushes everywhere. It was so freaking hot.

We got out of the cars and met Serene, a 5-year-old girl with brain stem cancer. She was diagnosed sometime when she was 1, and she travels every other month to Boston for treatment. Serene, two sisters, mom and dad live in a small house outside Cedar City. Our mission for today was to build Serene her very own clubhouse where she could play with her sisters and friends or where she could just be by herself.

Serene took charge of the situation. She told the boys to dig harder (they were basically digging into rock for the foundation). She told us to hurry up, but all in good humor. She was hysterical, and she seemed like just a normal 5-year-old. I don’t know if I expected a frail, sickly child, drained of any energy due to her treatments. Instead, we met a robust, cheerfully blond little girl who was patrolling our construction site until her hair stuck to her forehead with glistening sweat. She laughed with us and played. She poured us cups of water. After a while the sun got to her, and she, her mom, and her sisters got into the van and headed to the airport to Boston.

We spent the rest of the day with Serene’s dad, who designed the clubhouse. While we were building, he told us about Serene’s diagnosis and treatment over the years. He told us how Jazzy, Serene’s younger sister, sometimes helps to take care of her, even though she’s only three. Serene’s rare disease has changed this family and has brought them together in a way that reminds me of my own family when my mom was sick. It is really hard to wake up and be strong and supportive for someone else, day after day, year after year. It is emotionally draining. I’m in awe of their strength and I can see that they use each other to get through it. To Serene’s family: You can do it. Every day is a day closer to Serene being free of the cancer.

Today made me and other 4kers realize that while we may be hurting a lot on our bikes in the heat, up mountains, or on long days like the Vegas Challenge coming up, our pain is nothing compared to what Serene’s little body has to endure each day. I mean, how ridiculous would it be to complain of the heat, or aching butts from this point forward?!

Serene’s robust and energized presence today will be in our thoughts in the next few days, and we will draw from our 4k family for strength just as Serene has unconditional support from her parents and sisters. A million thanks to the AmeriCorps and Serene’s family for an enlightening day.

-Nicole