Friday, Oct. 10, 2008
Krista Carpenedo (UNF Volleyball Assistant Coach)
Cancer first came into my family in 1996 when I was in the process of deciding which college I wanted to attend. My Uncle Beau was seeking experimental treatment in Bethesda, Md., for colon cancer.
I, along with my parents had the chance to see him for one last time before he passed away. Cancer is a horrible thing, and to see his body so broken down was scary, but the amazing thing to me was his incredible spirit. He joked around until his last days. Time passed, and I had almost put the thought of cancer in the back of my mind until about two years ago when it came charging right back to the front.
My dad, Charles Poole, Jr., was diagnosed with stage two lung cancer. It is hard to put into words the feeling you get at that moment. My dad is my hero in every sense of the word, and the thought of him no longer physically here hurts more than I ever want anyone else to have to find out. His battle with cancer was so strong and courageous. You never lost him throughout everything he endured. His body might have been aching, but his spirit was fully intact!
Unfortunately for me and my family, his battle ended one year after his diagnosis when he went to heaven on April 16, 2008. Now that my dad is no longer physically here, there is a hole in my heart that will never be filled. I would give anything just to see him standing in front of me and hear him say that he loves me, but that won't be happening. So, now I can only hope for acceptance of my new reality and that I can make him proud of me each day for the rest of my life.
My family just had a huge loss and if that isn't enough, my Aunt Lynne, who helped us unselfishly throughout my father’s last days, is now being treated for breast cancer. At first when she was diagnosed, I got angry. I thought to myself, “Hasn’t my family already been through enough?”
Then I tried to deal with the reality of the situation with the same strength and courage that my father did. Cancer is a disease that does not discriminate and is awful to see a loved one have to go through. However, if I can be strong and proactive like my Aunt Lunne now has to be, then I can help her get through this and hopefully beat it. That is why I have taken such an interest raising money for cancer research.
On Oct. 18 at 3 p.m., the UNF Volleyball team is playing Seattle University, and that afternoon we will be honoring those people and families who have fought with and are still fighting breast cancer by joining the Side-Out Foundation in an event called DIG PINK!
We have already raised almost $1,000, and we will be selling light pink UNF Volleyball T-shirts for $10 each in hopes of eclipsing our goal of $1,000. Join the UNF Opsreys in supporting those affected by the disease and donate to the cause. Hopefully there will come a time when no one has to know the loss of a loved one from cancer.