text: At times during the next year I regretted those words, as I saw her body ravaged by the treatment, as I saw her very close to the brink of death. She lived a little over a year after that, spending much of it recovering from the brutal effects of the transplant. She lived to plan her daughter’s high school graduation party, but did not live to attend it.
  As I relayed I thought of where we have come with regard to chemo and radiation, stem cell and bone marrow transplant treatment, but just how far we have to go. In recent years two friends of mine and one friend of my family have had transplants. We lost Barry, the longtime friend of our family, after a valiant but ugly fight this year. My friends David and Mike, however, have not only survived their transplants but are back to “real life.”
  As I relayed I thought about my cousin Jonathan, who would have been 41 on Mother’s Day this year. He died at age seven, right around the time of my high school graduation. There has been a hole in our family ever since. He was a joy as a boy, but we missed seeing him become a man.
  As I relayed I thought of my niece Sara, who has survived cancer for five years. She experienced her first Relay this weekend, raised lots of money and spent the whole 24 hours there (and more) with her husband and three children. She is a person of passion, and it was beautiful to see her passion directed at raising money for Relay.
  As I relayed I thought of my friend and team captain Barb, who was desperately missing her daddy this year. The last couple of years she spent much time as his caregiver, even when he was cranky and feeling sick and vulnerable and uncomfortable sharing this with his beloved daughter. She worked so hard this year for Relay in his memory, as she did as she was fighting for his life.
  As I relayed I thought of my young friend Bryan, who fought so many brain tumors as a teenager, but lived life to the full. Who was my constant concert buddy during his teenaged years, with whom I shared so much laughter and conversations both silly and deep. Who built a faith in his life that was strong and mature. Who promised to save me good concert seats in heaven if he got there before me. Who is now saving me those seats. Who I still remember at every concert I attend on this earth, and many times in between. Who I think just may be jamming along in heaven.
  As I relayed I remembered little Erin, who first got my attention at Relay one year, so cute in the bandana she had wrapped in her hair as she walked with the survivors. Something about her grabbed my heart. I found out later that she had had chemo that afternoon, but was determined she was going to march the survivor’s walk. I chaired Relay the next year, and I was privileged to have her as our honorary chair. Could there be a greater goal to raise money for research than looking at Erin’s sweet face? We raised money and she was such an inspiration. But it was too little, too late. We lost Erin before our next Relay. Her face from that first Relay, however, is photographed in my mind.