Rein In Sarcoma

 After a full on mental breakdown that I really wasn’t sure I’d pull myself out of… I was certain my cancer had gotten the best of me and Covid, too. Being home nearly 24/7 day after day, in bed most days from fatigue or sickness, crying like I never knew I could cry, I decided I needed to pull my shit together and do something about this lack of sarcoma knowledge in the medical world. 

I went to Rein in Sarcoma and was so welcomed by Janelle who is the single most amazing woman I’ve ever been privileged to know. This is not a job to her, it’s a passion. There’s so much fire in her spirit you can feel it through the phone. Her best friend had sarcoma and started the Rein in Sarcoma organization and has since passed away at the age of 26. Janelle fights for her every day still 20 years later. I told Janelle I wanted to volunteer and do any/everything I could to get the word out about sarcomas being misdiagnosed and mistreated by hospitals, I wanted to save lives and save limbs for those of us with this beast. 

So far I have been put on the education committee, started the process of getting a fundraiser put together to raise money for research (more details to come soon, super excited about it!), and the biggest and best news of all, I spoke with Southeast Technical in Red Wing and Winona and will be now helping do an education section in the nursing program going forward! This is huge! The first a patient sees is the wonderful nurses who work directly with doctors and now we will get to be a part of the nursing program curriculum! I cannot thank Leah, my previous chemistry teacher, enough for believing in my vision and getting me in touch with the nursing program directors to do this! Big things are happening and I am so excited about it all. 

This is giving me so much happiness and such a purpose during my journey. I’m channeling all of my energy and anger into spreading awareness about sarcomas. Janelle does the same every day and hearing some of their amazing plans is so refreshing. It’s great to know someone cares so much about our little cancer niche and wants to helps us. She’s also put me in touch with other amazing fire-driven survivors or family members that it’s just rewarding to see such determination. I’ve never met people like this before, so driven, encouraging, accepting, and brilliant. These people want to do good for the sake of good. These are definitely the kind of people I want to surround myself with.

I refuse to go down with a fight and without doing my part in all of this. I feel like this was meant to be my path and I promise to do big things with it. We will be heard. 

If any of you ever want to volunteer to help this wonderful cause check out their website, reininsarcoma.org, and click on the volunteer option and apply. Or let me know and I can talk with Janelle about opportunities you can do in your area. 

Guys, this is big. And it’s beautiful. As much as cancer sucks I truly feel like this was something God put me on this path for. I needed to meet this group of strong-willed, determined fighters, and do my part. I can literally see the ripple effect happening by getting involved with this organization and spreading the word. Soon, maybe because we taught that nurse, she says to her doctor “just in case, we should look at it as a sarcoma” and save a life(or their limb). If we can even help one, just one person from suffering then it’ll all be worth it. 

I’m so happy to share this all with you! Maybe it doesn’t seem that grand to you but in my world, it doesn’t get much bigger or better than this. I feel like I’m beaming with pride to be a part of something so big and meaningful so such a select group. Big things are coming!