I have recently been given the amazing opportunity to travel to Florida to visit the most magical place on the Earth (and no I'm not talking about Disney World). Through an organization at Mizzou, I was selected among 11 other students to serve families at a resort called Give Kids the World. If you have never heard of this, like myself before the trip, you are truly missing out. This place is an environment filled with theme park rides, ice cream for breakfast, and never ending smiles.
Give Kids the World is a home away from home for families who have children battling life-threatening illnesses. I was given the privilege to serve these families and ensure the most amazing experience they could possibly have in their week's stay. Along with 11 of my peers, that turned to family, we took on the most humbling experience that will last a life-time.
Although Give Kids the World was a week of nothing but pure joy and realization, it isn't the only absolutely life-changing experience that I have had. Another campus organization that I have been so blessed to be involved with is Camp Kesem. With this camp, it takes on a different perspective than Give Kids the World. Camp Kesem is a summer camp for children who have parents dealing, or have dealt, with cancer. Although both of these organizations have very hard parallels, they are the most joyful and eye-opening places away from treatment, heartache, and hurt.
I could write a long passage about the nasty things cancer can do, the horrid stories that are heard every day, and the endings of loved ones who never stood a chance. I could write about the ways cancer has affected me, my parents, or a surplus of my friends. I could write about the awful monster of a disease that cancer is and the things it has the power to do. But I'm not going to.
Cancer has and will never have the opportunity to take away happiness, which is often pushed to the back of the mind. You may be reading this while shaking your head in disbelief that I would even say something like that. You are probably thinking, "What do you mean, that makes no sense. Of course, cancer takes away happiness." but really think about it. Cancer does not have that power until it is given that power.
Spending a week at both Give Kids the World and Camp Kesem, this has been proven to me time and time again. The children, whether personally affected or affected through a family member, showed me what it looks like to stay happy and positive through possibly the hardest times of their lives.
Cancer cannot eliminate hope. Although it is a battle that affects everyone surrounding the patient, cancer crosses paths with people that God knows can handle it. He places this strain in lives that may not make sense, but I would personally like to believe it is to show how these families can learn and grow together. Throughout the eternity of fighting, hope is never eliminated from the battle.
Being able to put into words what cancer cannot do is nearly impossible. Having been affected by cancer all of my life, I understand the hardships and obstacles that are faced every day when dealing with this terrible disease.
I came across a powerful quote that will be able to sum up my words as clearly as possible. Whether you want to believe what you are about to read, or not, this quotes screams accuracy. Although cancer can do a lot of nasty things in this world, don't forget the things it will never have the power to do.
