In honor of...

Last night I was humbled to attend the PurpleLight Vigil for Hope at the downtown Ft. Worth Water Gardens.  Mom wasn't feeling well enough to go, but Leroy and I didn't want to miss it.

PurpleLight Vigils were held across the nation last night.

The event was sponsored by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network as a way to bring the spotlight to bear on this relentless disease.   The tribute to our loved ones was beyond touching, and I was honored to lift my purple light up high as we called mom's name out as a 1 year pancreatic cancer survivor.

Tears ran freely as so many of the families raised their light in memory of loved ones lost to this cancer.  There were too many lost...  Names were read and many of the families shared the length of their fight.  Most battles were lost in months.  Hearts and voices broke as the list of names became heroic men and women who left behind friends and family struggling to work through their grief.  One grieving sister spoke of a brother she loved and lost just 5 short weeks after diagnosis.  My mind couldn't grasp the brevity and the shock of loss.  Even Leroy whispered in my ear, Did she say 5 weeks?  Inconceivable, the brutality of this cancer.

But there was solidarity there, an understanding of the fight, a sympathy born of experience.  We all knew.  And in the midst of the sadness, a soft, lilting voice began to tell of her journey with pancreatic cancer.  Her name was Dee and she smiled as she shared that she was a 16 year pancreatic cancer survivor.

Hope.  Pure and Simple.  Her story was Beautiful.  A beacon of Light for those of us in the trenches.  It may not be mom's story.  Or yours.  But as long as we breathe, there is Hope.

As we all raised our lights at the end of the ceremony, a single Bagpipe played it's sorrowful tune and the music mingled with the waterfall of tears as we grieved for what we've lost, and for what's ahead in mom's journey.  But as the last note lingered, I looked around and saw people hugging, then smiling.  Offering encouragement to one another.  My heart lifted.

We are not alone in this journey.  And neither are you.

The PurpleLight Vigil held at the Ft. Worth Water Gardens

Our walk down to the Meditation Pool at the Gardens

Dee, speaking Hope to us, sharing her 16 year story of survival

Musicians, sharing their heart in song

Our local County Commissioner, sharing the story of his brother-in-law, a physician who lost his fight with pancreatic cancer several years ago

Purple lit up the night

Lights raised in honor of those we love

In honor of you, mom.