There are several dates in my life that I will never forget. December 5, 2012 is one of them. Today is my life-aversary, the day God decided seven years ago He wasn’t ready for me yet and I officially became a cancer survivor.
A few months ago, a friend of mine became a “sister” when she learned she too would be taking a similar road trip and asked if I would share my experience. One might think after seven years some of the thoughts, memories, emotions, and feelings would fade but they really don’t. Everything about that day and the days that followed have been forever etched in my brain and while there are some days it feels like it was a lifetime ago, there are others it feels like it was just yesterday and I am instantly taken back to those moments in time.
As I have been sharing my experience with my new sister and as I reflect on the past seven years, I am reminded of more than just the who, what, where, etc. I am reminded what a precious gift life is and how, at any moment, everything can be turned upside-down. Sharing with her reminds me to never take it for granted and make the moments count because none of us are promised a tomorrow; to have no regrets; to let those you love and care about know how much they mean to you; to live, laugh, love like crazy, be kind, have faith, never give up hope, and of course....to just keep swimming. Today I thank God for giving me another chance at life and for every single one of my “floaties,” my friends and family who help me do just that.
#sevenyearscancerfree #survivor #justkeepswimming #blessedbeyondmeasure #faithlovehope #NoOneFightsAlone
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
It all started with a Kris...Race for the Place 2019
Just when I thought my most important race of every year couldn’t get any better or more memorable…Oh how wrong I was. Family, friends, victories. These moments are what makes #everymileamemory and this year was the best yet. While it was much cooler for this year's Race for the Place, the course was still as mentally challenging as always (I swear this year it felt like it was just about all up hill!!) and there were many times I wanted to stop and walk, just like always, but just like always I told myself slowing down was ok but stopping was not an option because the people I was running in honor and memory of were fighting/or had fought something much tougher than 3.1 miles and THEY didn't give up so I wasn't going to either. At one point I honestly felt like I was barely moving so I thought for sure this race would be one of my slowest but that was ok. This has never been about me anyway but rather the people I run for and I am just happy to make it to the finish line for them one way or another. It ends up I didn't do as bad as I thought because when I got to the 3 mile mark and heard the time called off, I was still in the 24's and sure enough, crossed the line with an official finish of 24:49 which was only 6 seconds off from my RftP course PR. As always, no live results at this race so we had to wait until the awards to find out how we all did. Thanks to my inspirations who kept me going when I wanted to quit, I was shocked when I was awarded 2nd OA Female Survivor (5th OA in the Survivor category) but not only that, I was called up again winning 3rd in my AG. In the 5 years I have been running the RftP, I have never been able to get past that #5 spot in my AG and this year I finally made the top 3. Oh.my.gosh to say I was excited is an understatement.
But what made this year's race even more memorable is it's the first time I've had not only one of my inspirations racing "with" me (who was running his first race after prostate cancer surgery less than 10 months ago AND set a new record in the Survivor category with at time of 16:51 right out of the gate) but seeing him standing there with his family the last 0.1 of the race and giving me a high five as I was making my way towards the finish. There are no words to describe how that felt and yet another moment I will never forget. Best race ever for so many reasons.
Thank you to everyone who supported the race that is near and dear to me for so many reasons; whether you joined in on the fun on the cold and rainy race day, supported my efforts by making a donation, or cheered us on from afar. But the biggest thanks, other than to God of course for giving me another day, goes to the ones who inspired me and got me to the finish line. You gave me hope when I didn’t have much and crossing that line and running "for you" was my biggest victory…better than any award I could ever win. Here’s to you Uncle Jr., Coach Craig, Constantin, Donna, Rachel, Theresa, and all the other warriors, the survivors, and the taken from years past. Just keep swimming.
#itsallaboutthe5s #celebratelife #racefortheplace #thegatheringplace#cancer #cancersurvivor #justkeepswimmingandrunning#celebratetgp20 #NCSD2019 #IRun4Jacob
To learn more about why this race means so much to me or to make a donation, visit my personal page Joy Just Keeps Swimming...and Running Take 5.
The Race for the Place 5K and 1 Mile Walk benefitting The Gathering Place, is held every year on National Cancer Survivors Day, the first Sunday of June. I will be running this race have having my team Just Keep Swimming...and Running every year as long as the good Lord allows and I'd love for you to join me!
Friday, May 10, 2019
Forever 23 ~ 23 years later 5.10.19
Flashback to 5.10.96 and Cleveland 90s Alternative Station 107.9 WENZ The End's D.J. Ted Kowalski…
"We got this fax yesterday. Let me share this with you." (reading the fax)
"Dear 107.9 The End. I would like to make a song request to be played May 10th at 10:59 a.m. if possible. I would like to request "Lightening Crashes" by Live and "Sister" by the Nixons. You see, on May 10th my brother, Rick Whitcomb, would have turned 24 years old but on January 19, 1996, he was murdered. His legal time of death was 10:59 [p.m.] hence the request for 10:59. He was huge fan of Live, as a matter of fact, we played "Lightening Crashes" at his funeral, and even though the song is called "Sister", the words are a perfect reminder of him. I hope I don’t sound like I should be writing this to the Casey Kasem Countdown Show I just know a lot of his friends listen to 107.9 The End and so do I and it would really mean a lot to hear one, if not both songs, in memory of his birthday. You guys are the greatest. Sincerely, his sister, Joy.
For Rick…Live, on The End…"
At the age of 23 23 year ago, God decided He needed my brother more than we did and on a cold January night, Rick finally got to see the stars. I'll never forget writing to the radio station as his birthday was approaching and thinking the fax would just get tossed aside, only to be sitting at work (with boom box at my desk and cassette tape ready to go "just in case") and hearing the DJ start to read my fax AND play not one but both songs, too. Wow, that's all I can say. Today, in honor of what would have been his 47th birthday, I am reposting the video I created in 2011 dedicated to not only what was his 15th birthday without him, but to the friends and family who helped keep his memory alive. Even to this day, 23 years later, the impact my brother had on those who knew him and loved him can still be felt and I am thankful that while he may be gone from this Earth, he certainly is not forgotten.
Slick Rick AKA Ace, there is not a day that goes by, even 23 years later, that I don't miss you terribly but every day without you is one day closer to being with you…I am thankful for the faith and beliefs mom and Papa D instilled in us that this life is not The End and because of God's promise, I will see your smiling face and feel one of your amazing hugs once again. Be sure to give Papa D a hug for me, ok, 'cuz I sure do miss him, too. Until we meet again…..
You can read more about my brother and a life taken way too early on the tribute page I created for him on Facebook: Home Free - In Memory of Richard G. Whitcomb, Jr.
Thursday, May 9, 2019
Race for the Place 2019
To join my team, make a donation, or to simply learn more about why this race means so much to me, visit https://give.classy.org/joyjustkeepsswimmingandrunning2019
#itsallaboutthe5s #celebratelife #racefortheplace #thegatheringplace#cancer #cancersurvivor #justkeepswimmingandrunning #celebratetgp20#NCSD2019 #IRun4Jacob #chicagoragnar2016perfectstrangers
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