Making a difference together

You are in my thoughts
are with you are part of
the prayer chain at our
church will say a mass
for you accept all
prayers on your behalf we
will say a rosary for you
tonight lots of people
are calmly, psychically
cheering you on Sunday
will light a candle for
you are in our thoughts
and prayers are being
said for you need all the
health karma there is a
candle lit for you in
front of my Madonna has a
special place for young
women in trouble require
positive and healthy
energy to kiss someone
you love when you get
this letter and make
magic.

Denise’s poem from the Cancer Poetry Project is titled “Letters Written.” This one struck me because I just recently wrote a note to someone about to walk down the same road of breast cancer. All I could think to say was, “you are in my thoughts and prayers.”

Reading this poem, I feel a bit ashamed because I didn’t know what to say. All I knew was that she is on my mind and I am praying for her. There is nothing else to say, but fight. Know your strength.

But what I love about this poem is that Denise’s strength comes from the love of so many. She called it magic.

There really is something magical about a feeling or thought shared with others. What might be impossible alone suddenly becomes doable in the company of a group.
Although I know that my “thoughts and prayers” alone only can do so much, I have no doubt that shared with the thoughts and prayers of thousands of others together at one place, at one time, fighting with her will make all the difference.

In about two weeks, I will do just that. I will join thousands in Washington D.C. on May 3-4 for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

The idea is to fight together for the same cause. The most I have been able to walk alone at one time has been 13 miles. But together, we will walk 39.3 miles.

Somehow, I know I can do it. I imagine that it will be like walking on a wave.

Over this process, I have come to know my strength and I have come to know the support of so many along the way. Not only have friends and family contributed but also local businesses have as well.

Culpeper Sports and Racquet, Precious Blood Catholic Church and SuShar Beads have donated. Even local officials; David DeJarnette, Bill Yowell, Chip Coleman, and Terry Yowell have contributed as well. None of them had to give, but they chose to anyway. And I am thankful that they did.

With this disease, everyone has a story. Given that breast cancer is diagnosed every three minutes, there is no telling what each person’s individual relationship has been with this disease. It’s hard to know if they are giving because of what they have personally experienced, or whether it has been a disease that they have struggled with through a loved one.

It is even more difficult to know if they will face this disease somewhere in their future.

But their love and support strengthens me, which is what is necessary for anyone battling this disease, whether through a brief two-day event or through the painful process of chemotherapy.
I can’t say that I entirely understand why anyone must suffer with this or any other life threatening illness. But I do know of one benefit.

Once you hear of your friend or even your enemy facing such suffering, there is no room for anything other than love.

It is one time when suddenly everything else seems petty and frivolous. That is when we are truly who we were meant to be.

By being there for another at their greatest hour of need, we are available to receive the gifts we were meant to receive.

Without the darkness, we would not need or even know the light.

Shine on, Sandy.

Dawn Klemann is an independent columnist and resident of Culpeper. Her column appears every other Wednesday. E-mail