Fighting
for a Stranger
by Christine Jarvis
I’m Chris, mom of three wonderful
young adults, soccer player, Running Room
instructor, perpetual volunteer and employee
at a busy Pediatrics office.
I am surrounded by loving family and friends,
I am full of life and I am ready to take
on the world. And this is my story.
The first
time I heard about the Ride
to Conquer Cancer was in
February. It was only by chance that I
found the flyer, which instantly caught
my attention because I am always looking
for something new to do, whether it’s
ice climbing, running a marathon, driving
to Mexico on a bus with 100 other people
to build houses for those in need, or
getting my motorcycle licence. I don’t
question my zest for life, I simply embrace
it. I’m kicking 50 so “bring
it on!”
The bright blue and yellow flyer read,
"Ride 200+ KM on a bicycle, after
raising $2500 towards finding a cure!
I was instantly intrigued and started
to find reasons to ride; it’s for
a good cause, the challenge of a two-day,
200+ km bicycle ride through the mountains,
and I would have helped make a difference
to those suffering from or directly affected
by cancer."
I kept the brochure but didn’t follow
up until Monday to get more information.
After speaking with Bradley at the Ride
to Conquer Cancer office, I had to consider
not only why but how I planned on registering;
Individual? Team? Who am I riding for?
How will I raise $2500? He helped alleviate
my concerns and put the Ride into perspective.
I was convinced this was my next adventure.
Finding
each other
A
few weeks passed after that phone call
and one afternoon at work, a patient’s
mom walked in crying. I walked around
my counter, offering tissues and a hug.
She was distraught because she had only
minutes before arriving, received the
devastating news that her sister-in-law,
Chris Bryan, had been diagnosed with Cancer.
I was one of the first people she told
and my heart was heavy with sadness for
both Angie and Chris.
After Katelyn’s appointment, Angie
and I chatted more about Chris. As Angie
talked, all I could think of was, “What
can I do to help?”
Chris, 47, is the same age as I am with
basically the same family dynamics of
three young adult children. I couldn’t
shake this woman’s devastating news.
I tried to put myself in her shoes but
it was too horrifying to think about.
I could shake the thoughts off - she couldn’t.
It was real for her.
It was her life now.
And she had to deal with it.
I called Angie a few days later to see
how Chris was doing, and if they needed
anything, not sure what I could have done.
A few days later, Angie told me it was
not good. Chris was in hospital for further
testing and treatment.
At that point I had talked to Angie a
few times when she told me about Chris’s
blog and how I could go to her site and
follow her progress.
I was a stranger to Chris, someone who
simply watched her progress via her blog
and would send “feel better wishes”
through her family.
From afar, I prayed for her.
After a week or so reading her blog, I
decided to do the Ride To Conquer Cancer
for Chris, and went through Angie to put
my request forth to Chris who was at that
time, home on oxygen, awaiting test results
and going to the hospital for treatments.
At
that moment, she became my reason for
doing this ride.
Angie told
Chris about me wanting to do this ride
for her, in her honour, and she was surprised
that a stranger would do this for her
but happy about it, too.
Over the next few weeks Chris’s health
deteriorated and the blog entries stopped.
She was too sick to update.
Chris was not doing very well. She was
re-admitted to the hospital but Angie
kept me informed about her health.
Continued
