I stood on the sidelines eighteen years ago as I watched my sister and brother-in-law confront his battle with leukemia. Devin was and still is the most gracious and courageous “C” patient – I don’t hold a candle to him. God called upon an angel in September of 2000.

Tracy, my college roommate, succumbed to breast “C” three years ago this fall. I never had the opportunity to apologize to her for my stupidity as a result of my eating disorder – a regret that only heaven can mend.

In the fall of 2013, my younger sister Jeanne was in engulfed in the same crazy mess I am currently undergoing. Slightly different paths but still the same “C”. She just celebrated two years “C” free!

And over twenty years ago, both of my parents challenged kidney and breast “C”. Yet they were able to love and live many wonderful years after.

Today, I have friends, acquaintances and faces with unknown names fighting the fight. And the questions of what, where, when, why and how don’t really matter. Because there is nothing routine about “C” – each of our journeys differ.

But whoever said “winning isn’t everything” never had to fight cancer. For we all share the same deep desire – to beat this…with grit and grace.