Stories of Sisterhood

[bslo18]

Every year, my chapter participates in the Relay for Life at our school in New Jersey. This year's Relay had several meanings, each bringing us together even closer.

In November-December, my aunt who I am extremely close to was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. We didnt know how serious it was but the idea of cancer scared the shit out of me. I couldn't concentrate on anything and until her results came in, I was a wreck. My roommate who was also my Pearl and one of my close friends was my rock cause she knew what I was going through. She had lost her dad to cancer a few years back. Luckily, we got the good news that it wasnt as bad as we originally thought and she would just have to go through chemo for 6 months.

About two months prior to relay, our chapter/faculty advisor was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to go through extensive chemo. She continued to teach and continued to be our advisor and we loved her for everything. She was always there for our chapter and still is, even though less than 2 weeks prior to Relay she got news that her cancer had worsened and she would have to step up her chemo. At Relay, we lit a candle for her that was place on the track.

During the luminaria lap, when the lights are turned off, my chapter stood arm in arm and walked around. I couldnt help myself and started to cry cause I kept thinking about my aunt and one of my sisters was by my side in a minute. This same sister started crying half way through the lap as well. She herself was a cancer survivor.

The minute we were coming up to our chapter advisors luminaria candle, we stopped as a chapter and continued to hold hands. Eventually we stopped in her honor and did a group hug. It was one of the moments that I knew that each of these 20 girls were there for me cause they held me up during that lap. Our advisor still needs our prayers and we hope her health will continue to get better.