[Applause] before I begin I would like for everyone
before I begin I would like for everyone
before I begin I would like for everyone to please close their eyes imagine this
to please close their eyes imagine this
to please close their eyes imagine this it’s two o’clock in the morning on a
it’s two o’clock in the morning on a
it’s two o’clock in the morning on a school night and your mother abruptly
school night and your mother abruptly
school night and your mother abruptly knocks on your door you can open your
knocks on your door you can open your
knocks on your door you can open your eyes now you’re awake this is no longer
eyes now you’re awake this is no longer
eyes now you’re awake this is no longer a dream it is a reality this is the same
a dream it is a reality this is the same
a dream it is a reality this is the same reality that I faced on October 11 2016
reality that I faced on October 11 2016
reality that I faced on October 11 2016 half-asleep and exhausted I prepare
half-asleep and exhausted I prepare
half-asleep and exhausted I prepare myself for the last few moments before
myself for the last few moments before
myself for the last few moments before my sister’s death my calloused feet
my sister’s death my calloused feet
my sister’s death my calloused feet touched the midnight floor a contrast to
touched the midnight floor a contrast to
touched the midnight floor a contrast to my beating heart pounding out of my
my beating heart pounding out of my
my beating heart pounding out of my chest every step I took towards her
chest every step I took towards her
chest every step I took towards her deathbed there she was right in front of
deathbed there she was right in front of
deathbed there she was right in front of me
me
me what once was a woody thirteen-year-old
what once was a woody thirteen-year-old
what once was a woody thirteen-year-old who’s asked her doctors for allowing my
who’s asked her doctors for allowing my
who’s asked her doctors for allowing my parents Peter tumeric pills was replaced
parents Peter tumeric pills was replaced
parents Peter tumeric pills was replaced with a skeleton ones whose figure was
with a skeleton ones whose figure was
with a skeleton ones whose figure was emaciated from too few sips of in Shore
emaciated from too few sips of in Shore
emaciated from too few sips of in Shore and whose skin was paler than the first
and whose skin was paler than the first
and whose skin was paler than the first snow I wrapped my arms around her as her
snow I wrapped my arms around her as her
snow I wrapped my arms around her as her breath slowly became consumed by the
breath slowly became consumed by the
breath slowly became consumed by the ventilator and her beating heart
ventilator and her beating heart
ventilator and her beating heart Dimmie window to a pause I felt the
Dimmie window to a pause I felt the
Dimmie window to a pause I felt the warmth of her hands leave her body as
warmth of her hands leave her body as
warmth of her hands leave her body as her spirit lifted above the earth and
her spirit lifted above the earth and
her spirit lifted above the earth and calcified her remains after a long long
calcified her remains after a long long
calcified her remains after a long long four years cancer one but my sister was
four years cancer one but my sister was
four years cancer one but my sister was free and I was left with the painful
free and I was left with the painful
free and I was left with the painful shards a fallout my name is Valerie
shards a fallout my name is Valerie
shards a fallout my name is Valerie Angwin and I’m a proud outspoken
Angwin and I’m a proud outspoken
Angwin and I’m a proud outspoken childhood cancer advocate know if you
childhood cancer advocate know if you
childhood cancer advocate know if you just didn’t hear that you’re probably
just didn’t hear that you’re probably
just didn’t hear that you’re probably assuming for my bald head that I was the
assuming for my bald head that I was the
assuming for my bald head that I was the one who battled countless rounds of
one who battled countless rounds of
one who battled countless rounds of chemotherapy radiation and the greatest
chemotherapy radiation and the greatest
chemotherapy radiation and the greatest be stabber and that I’m the brave one or
be stabber and that I’m the brave one or
be stabber and that I’m the brave one or that I’m just weird but I’m not four
that I’m just weird but I’m not four
that I’m just weird but I’m not four years ago on March 18th 2013 my sister
years ago on March 18th 2013 my sister
years ago on March 18th 2013 my sister was diagnosed with osteosarcoma a rare
was diagnosed with osteosarcoma a rare
was diagnosed with osteosarcoma a rare form of childhood cancer
sorry this is hard I fell where form of
sorry this is hard I fell where form of childhood cancer she battled countless
childhood cancer she battled countless
childhood cancer she battled countless rounds of chemotherapy and radiation and
rounds of chemotherapy and radiation and
rounds of chemotherapy and radiation and she battled for the time of her life but
she battled for the time of her life but
she battled for the time of her life but she didn’t die because she wasn’t strong
she didn’t die because she wasn’t strong
she didn’t die because she wasn’t strong enough she died because there are a few
enough she died because there are a few
enough she died because there are a few options left out there for her no I’m
options left out there for her no I’m
options left out there for her no I’m not here to tell you about a sappy story
not here to tell you about a sappy story
not here to tell you about a sappy story about an innocent young girl got
about an innocent young girl got
about an innocent young girl got diagnosed with cancer I’ll spare you the
diagnosed with cancer I’ll spare you the
diagnosed with cancer I’ll spare you the details of how I watched her inject
details of how I watched her inject
details of how I watched her inject blood thinners in her stomach each night
blood thinners in her stomach each night
blood thinners in her stomach each night leaving her with countless amounts of
leaving her with countless amounts of
leaving her with countless amounts of bruises the real reason I’m here is to
bruises the real reason I’m here is to
bruises the real reason I’m here is to tell you that this is real and this
tell you that this is real and this
tell you that this is real and this isn’t something you can push to the side
isn’t something you can push to the side
isn’t something you can push to the side because it doesn’t affect you just yet
because it doesn’t affect you just yet
because it doesn’t affect you just yet this piece hasn’t picked its victims in
this piece hasn’t picked its victims in
this piece hasn’t picked its victims in any particular order picks on innocent
any particular order picks on innocent
any particular order picks on innocent young children like my sister who once
young children like my sister who once
young children like my sister who once left school more than anything else in
left school more than anything else in
left school more than anything else in the world now I know all of you know
the world now I know all of you know
the world now I know all of you know that any kid would take a chance in this
that any kid would take a chance in this
that any kid would take a chance in this school if they had the opportunity to
school if they had the opportunity to
school if they had the opportunity to now raise your hand either that kid
now raise your hand either that kid
now raise your hand either that kid because I know I certainly was the sad
because I know I certainly was the sad
because I know I certainly was the sad part is childhood cancer strips us away
part is childhood cancer strips us away
part is childhood cancer strips us away from you it seals the way even the
from you it seals the way even the
from you it seals the way even the smallest moments in your life for
smallest moments in your life for
smallest moments in your life for missing even the smallest opportunity
missing even the smallest opportunity
missing even the smallest opportunity such as seeing your friends at school –
such as seeing your friends at school –
such as seeing your friends at school – doing homework
doing homework
doing homework yes homework because you’re physically
yes homework because you’re physically
yes homework because you’re physically drained and exhausted from the countless
drained and exhausted from the countless
drained and exhausted from the countless amounts of treatments not to even
amounts of treatments not to even
amounts of treatments not to even mention a more physically apparent
mention a more physically apparent
mention a more physically apparent effect of such as losing hair an
effect of such as losing hair an
effect of such as losing hair an important accessory that we take for
important accessory that we take for
important accessory that we take for granted every day that can even
granted every day that can even
granted every day that can even determine how our day one has the term
determine how our day one has the term
determine how our day one has the term good or bad hair day I vividly remember
good or bad hair day I vividly remember
good or bad hair day I vividly remember how much it hurt looking at her her from
how much it hurt looking at her her from
how much it hurt looking at her her from the countless rounds of chemotherapy
the countless rounds of chemotherapy
the countless rounds of chemotherapy that made here designate barf bucket
that made here designate barf bucket
that made here designate barf bucket holder – amputations that eventually
holder – amputations that eventually
holder – amputations that eventually took away her left arm regardless all of
took away her left arm regardless all of
took away her left arm regardless all of that she was this is re she was a silly
that she was this is re she was a silly
that she was this is re she was a silly charismatic yet considered young girl
charismatic yet considered young girl
charismatic yet considered young girl regardless how she was feeling she would
regardless how she was feeling she would
regardless how she was feeling she would always mess up the courage to make a
always mess up the courage to make a
always mess up the courage to make a snarky comment this is actually like a
snarky comment this is actually like a
snarky comment this is actually like a couple days after she was out of
couple days after she was out of
couple days after she was out of treatment my cousin took her up to West
treatment my cousin took her up to West
treatment my cousin took her up to West Virginia this is a little kind of like a
Virginia this is a little kind of like a
Virginia this is a little kind of like a mini Luray Caverns and she she even
mini Luray Caverns and she she even
mini Luray Caverns and she she even though she was still sick but she still
though she was still sick but she still
though she was still sick but she still the courage to make calm just to give
the courage to make calm just to give
the courage to make calm just to give you an idea how snarky she was
regardless of how she was feeling she
regardless of how she was feeling she she would always present the best of
she would always present the best of
she would always present the best of herself she was a she was the brightest
herself she was a she was the brightest
herself she was a she was the brightest snow of my life and she was the light of
snow of my life and she was the light of
snow of my life and she was the light of my life and even if the world was
my life and even if the world was
my life and even if the world was toppling upon her she would always mess
toppling upon her she would always mess
toppling upon her she would always mess up the courage to ask me how my day went
up the courage to ask me how my day went
up the courage to ask me how my day went despite all these America amazing
despite all these America amazing
despite all these America amazing characteristics the world perceives her
characteristics the world perceives her
characteristics the world perceives her in different manner than she did than I
in different manner than she did than I
in different manner than she did than I did kids as we all know what our mean
did kids as we all know what our mean
did kids as we all know what our mean especially in middle school her short
especially in middle school her short
especially in middle school her short hair made her a boy well instead of a
hair made her a boy well instead of a
hair made her a boy well instead of a spunky character while her limp
spunky character while her limp
spunky character while her limp labeled her as a handicap she didn’t
labeled her as a handicap she didn’t
labeled her as a handicap she didn’t want cancer to make her the center of
want cancer to make her the center of
want cancer to make her the center of our attention she didn’t want cancer to
our attention she didn’t want cancer to
our attention she didn’t want cancer to control her life but sadly it did just
control her life but sadly it did just
control her life but sadly it did just that it turned her bright soul into the
that it turned her bright soul into the
that it turned her bright soul into the one of our Wicked Witch his truth is
one of our Wicked Witch his truth is
one of our Wicked Witch his truth is childhood cancers falsely advertised on
childhood cancers falsely advertised on
childhood cancers falsely advertised on TV as smiling young children with bald
TV as smiling young children with bald
TV as smiling young children with bald heads having a time of their life with
heads having a time of their life with
heads having a time of their life with their celebrities but the truth is is
their celebrities but the truth is is
their celebrities but the truth is is the complete opposite of that is the
the complete opposite of that is the
the complete opposite of that is the constant glares and looks that other
constant glares and looks that other
constant glares and looks that other give others gives these children that
give others gives these children that
give others gives these children that hurt more than any dose of chemotherapy
hurt more than any dose of chemotherapy
hurt more than any dose of chemotherapy he would think that the pain of
he would think that the pain of
he would think that the pain of amputation is greater than the opinions
amputation is greater than the opinions
amputation is greater than the opinions of others right well the truth is no one
of others right well the truth is no one
of others right well the truth is no one wants to be defined with cancer and no
wants to be defined with cancer and no
wants to be defined with cancer and no one wants to be controlled by in the
one wants to be controlled by in the
one wants to be controlled by in the first place I mean who wants to have
first place I mean who wants to have
first place I mean who wants to have cancer in the first place if we truly
cancer in the first place if we truly
cancer in the first place if we truly care about our loved ones we should see
care about our loved ones we should see
care about our loved ones we should see them in the light they want to be
them in the light they want to be
them in the light they want to be perceived as underneath all the physical
perceived as underneath all the physical
perceived as underneath all the physical appearances these are the same people
appearances these are the same people
appearances these are the same people that we’ve shared so many memories with
that we’ve shared so many memories with
that we’ve shared so many memories with countless amount of laughs with so why
countless amount of laughs with so why
countless amount of laughs with so why should a disease change all of that if
should a disease change all of that if
should a disease change all of that if we’re ignorant to her actions we’re only
we’re ignorant to her actions we’re only
we’re ignorant to her actions we’re only adding to cancers ever-growing flame to
adding to cancers ever-growing flame to
adding to cancers ever-growing flame to combat this we must first educate
combat this we must first educate
combat this we must first educate ourselves now I’m not saying overnight
ourselves now I’m not saying overnight
ourselves now I’m not saying overnight everyone has to become a pediatric
everyone has to become a pediatric
everyone has to become a pediatric oncologist to cure childhood cancer
oncologist to cure childhood cancer
oncologist to cure childhood cancer patients but what I’m saying is that
patients but what I’m saying is that
patients but what I’m saying is that there are small things that we can do in
there are small things that we can do in
there are small things that we can do in all of our lives to improve the lives of
all of our lives to improve the lives of
all of our lives to improve the lives of others around us to begin we must first
others around us to begin we must first
others around us to begin we must first break the omnipresent mindset of
break the omnipresent mindset of
break the omnipresent mindset of thinking that this won’t ever affect us
thinking that this won’t ever affect us
thinking that this won’t ever affect us ask yourself this what has been the
ask yourself this what has been the
ask yourself this what has been the the most painful moment of your life I
the most painful moment of your life I
the most painful moment of your life I don’t know about you but for me it was a
don’t know about you but for me it was a
don’t know about you but for me it was a mere two-second job of the needle
mere two-second job of the needle
mere two-second job of the needle breaking the epidermis of my skin in the
breaking the epidermis of my skin in the
breaking the epidermis of my skin in the doctor’s office for childhood cancer
doctor’s office for childhood cancer
doctor’s office for childhood cancer patients it goes beyond just that
patients it goes beyond just that
patients it goes beyond just that needles become a daily part of the
needles become a daily part of the
needles become a daily part of the routine along with nausea constant
routine along with nausea constant
routine along with nausea constant headaches and pain just just to name a
headaches and pain just just to name a
headaches and pain just just to name a few
few
few it’s also the pain of isolation and
it’s also the pain of isolation and
it’s also the pain of isolation and authorization from friends and families
authorization from friends and families
authorization from friends and families and constantly plastering us fake smile
and constantly plastering us fake smile
and constantly plastering us fake smile to avoid get being thrown out yet
to avoid get being thrown out yet
to avoid get being thrown out yet another pity party but more broadly
another pity party but more broadly
another pity party but more broadly speaking it’s the pain of isolation a
speaking it’s the pain of isolation a
speaking it’s the pain of isolation a study from BYU suggests that this
study from BYU suggests that this
study from BYU suggests that this isolation might even be more deadly than
isolation might even be more deadly than
isolation might even be more deadly than cancer itself with this in mind it’s
cancer itself with this in mind it’s
cancer itself with this in mind it’s important to spend time with their loved
important to spend time with their loved
important to spend time with their loved ones whether they’re fighting for every
ones whether they’re fighting for every
ones whether they’re fighting for every breath of their life or there’s simply
breath of their life or there’s simply
breath of their life or there’s simply nothing wrong with their lives time as
nothing wrong with their lives time as
nothing wrong with their lives time as that we all know it’s precious and we
that we all know it’s precious and we
that we all know it’s precious and we never know when anyone’s ever going to
never know when anyone’s ever going to
never know when anyone’s ever going to take their last breath in life although
take their last breath in life although
take their last breath in life although I missed out a lot on my high school
I missed out a lot on my high school
I missed out a lot on my high school life from attending gain football games
life from attending gain football games
life from attending gain football games to spending time with my friends even
to spending time with my friends even
to spending time with my friends even homecoming dances I’m so incredibly
homecoming dances I’m so incredibly
homecoming dances I’m so incredibly thankful to have spent those moments
thankful to have spent those moments
thankful to have spent those moments instead of with my sister because now I
instead of with my sister because now I
instead of with my sister because now I don’t live a life of what-ifs and I’m
don’t live a life of what-ifs and I’m
don’t live a life of what-ifs and I’m really thankful and I hope you guys
really thankful and I hope you guys
really thankful and I hope you guys would all do the same because no one
would all do the same because no one
would all do the same because no one ever wants to live a life of what-ifs
ever wants to live a life of what-ifs
ever wants to live a life of what-ifs furthermore when you’re spending time
furthermore when you’re spending time
furthermore when you’re spending time with your loved ones ensure that you
with your loved ones ensure that you
with your loved ones ensure that you aren’t just listening to hear but that
aren’t just listening to hear but that
aren’t just listening to hear but that you’re listening to understand some of
you’re listening to understand some of
you’re listening to understand some of the most important life lessons that
the most important life lessons that
the most important life lessons that I’ve employed in my life today I learned
I’ve employed in my life today I learned
I’ve employed in my life today I learned from just spending time with my sister
from just spending time with my sister
from just spending time with my sister treating her like any other sister would
treating her like any other sister would
treating her like any other sister would have it’s important that these people
have it’s important that these people
have it’s important that these people received in the light that they want to
received in the light that they want to
received in the light that they want to be seen as because no one wants to be
be seen as because no one wants to be
be seen as because no one wants to be defined by a disease that they can’t
defined by a disease that they can’t
defined by a disease that they can’t control in the first place
control in the first place
control in the first place empathizing and sympathizing is it
empathizing and sympathizing is it
empathizing and sympathizing is it enough the most important thing that we
enough the most important thing that we
enough the most important thing that we can do is to stand up for these children
can do is to stand up for these children
can do is to stand up for these children and to do our part whether it’s big or
and to do our part whether it’s big or
and to do our part whether it’s big or small the truth is cancer doesn’t care
small the truth is cancer doesn’t care
small the truth is cancer doesn’t care at all how many people love you or how
at all how many people love you or how
at all how many people love you or how badly you want to live it doesn’t even
badly you want to live it doesn’t even
badly you want to live it doesn’t even care about how strong you’ve been
care about how strong you’ve been
care about how strong you’ve been fighting after four incredibly long year
fighting after four incredibly long year
fighting after four incredibly long year is my sister fought every single for
is my sister fought every single for
is my sister fought every single for every single breath of her life but that
every single breath of her life but that
every single breath of her life but that wasn’t enough and it’s not because she
wasn’t enough and it’s not because she
wasn’t enough and it’s not because she wasn’t strong enough it was because
wasn’t strong enough it was because
wasn’t strong enough it was because there are too few treatments out there
there are too few treatments out there
there are too few treatments out there for childhood cancer patients what is
for childhood cancer patients what is
for childhood cancer patients what is happing today it’s the same thing that
happing today it’s the same thing that
happing today it’s the same thing that happened 30 years ago and even 50 years
happened 30 years ago and even 50 years
happened 30 years ago and even 50 years ago because no one is trying hard enough
ago because no one is trying hard enough
ago because no one is trying hard enough to cure these children it’s so
to cure these children it’s so
to cure these children it’s so depressing
depressing
depressing we’re too wrapped up in our first world
we’re too wrapped up in our first world
we’re too wrapped up in our first world issues from our looks to a rat races
issues from our looks to a rat races
issues from our looks to a rat races that we forget there’s a whole world
that we forget there’s a whole world
that we forget there’s a whole world revolving around us from forgetting to
revolving around us from forgetting to
revolving around us from forgetting to check on our sick friends even pulling
check on our sick friends even pulling
check on our sick friends even pulling out a single dollar to donate a tropical
out a single dollar to donate a tropical
out a single dollar to donate a tropical smoothies free smoothie day for
smoothies free smoothie day for
smoothies free smoothie day for childhood cancer patient this is
childhood cancer patient this is
childhood cancer patient this is ignorant at our doorstep and if we
ignorant at our doorstep and if we
ignorant at our doorstep and if we aren’t doing something about it we’re
aren’t doing something about it we’re
aren’t doing something about it we’re only adding to the issue the truth is
only adding to the issue the truth is
only adding to the issue the truth is Cecilia could have been your friend she
Cecilia could have been your friend she
Cecilia could have been your friend she could have been your classmate she could
could have been your classmate she could
could have been your classmate she could have been your student she could have
have been your student she could have
have been your student she could have been your neighbor or just a passerby
been your neighbor or just a passerby
been your neighbor or just a passerby smile because of childhood cancer
smile because of childhood cancer
smile because of childhood cancer there’s one less ‘silly on this world
there’s one less ‘silly on this world
there’s one less ‘silly on this world there’s one more empty seat one less
there’s one more empty seat one less
there’s one more empty seat one less paper to grade but one more hole in all
paper to grade but one more hole in all
paper to grade but one more hole in all of our hearts but the sad part is
of our hearts but the sad part is
of our hearts but the sad part is Cecilia story isn’t rare each year over
Cecilia story isn’t rare each year over
Cecilia story isn’t rare each year over two hundred sixty three thousand
two hundred sixty three thousand
two hundred sixty three thousand children are diagnosed with childhood
children are diagnosed with childhood
children are diagnosed with childhood cancer and and their parents are now
cancer and and their parents are now
cancer and and their parents are now burying their own children while
burying their own children while
burying their own children while siblings have to live a life wondering
siblings have to live a life wondering
siblings have to live a life wondering what it’s like to live without a best
what it’s like to live without a best
what it’s like to live without a best friend if we don’t do anything about it
friend if we don’t do anything about it
friend if we don’t do anything about it as able-bodied people then only more
as able-bodied people then only more
as able-bodied people then only more children will die because we aren’t
children will die because we aren’t
children will die because we aren’t wrapped up in this own race and because
wrapped up in this own race and because
wrapped up in this own race and because we are living our normal lives and we’re
we are living our normal lives and we’re
we are living our normal lives and we’re we’re healthy and happy we should be
we’re healthy and happy we should be
we’re healthy and happy we should be standing up for these children because
standing up for these children because
standing up for these children because the families to be completely honest or
the families to be completely honest or
the families to be completely honest or too wrapped up and exhausted to be
too wrapped up and exhausted to be
too wrapped up and exhausted to be fighting for their own children together
fighting for their own children together
fighting for their own children together we can end a path II and together
we can end a path II and together
we can end a path II and together hopefully there’ll be one more Cecilia
hopefully there’ll be one more Cecilia
hopefully there’ll be one more Cecilia in this world thank you
in this world thank you
in this world thank you [Applause]
”
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