do want to tell you a story though so story time for you high schoolers
story time for you high schoolers
story time for you high schoolers December 31st 2012 at 4:30 p.m. I should
December 31st 2012 at 4:30 p.m. I should
December 31st 2012 at 4:30 p.m. I should have been pouring over a pile of
have been pouring over a pile of
have been pouring over a pile of fabulous dresses and ridiculously high
fabulous dresses and ridiculously high
fabulous dresses and ridiculously high shoes I should have been planning a New
shoes I should have been planning a New
shoes I should have been planning a New Year’s Eve party because I was fabulous
Year’s Eve party because I was fabulous
Year’s Eve party because I was fabulous and successful and that’s what fabulous
and successful and that’s what fabulous
and successful and that’s what fabulous successful people do on New Year’s Eve
successful people do on New Year’s Eve
successful people do on New Year’s Eve but I’m ahead of myself so thirty years
but I’m ahead of myself so thirty years
but I’m ahead of myself so thirty years ago I sat where you guys are sitting I
ago I sat where you guys are sitting I
ago I sat where you guys are sitting I had a nearly perfect SAT score
had a nearly perfect SAT score
had a nearly perfect SAT score tremendous GPA and ranked almost at the
tremendous GPA and ranked almost at the
tremendous GPA and ranked almost at the top of my class but wait this is stem do
top of my class but wait this is stem do
top of my class but wait this is stem do you guys know what class rank is I’m
you guys know what class rank is I’m
you guys know what class rank is I’m probably not okay after college
probably not okay after college
probably not okay after college indeed I went to medical school where I
indeed I went to medical school where I
indeed I went to medical school where I met the man of my dreams and earned the
met the man of my dreams and earned the
met the man of my dreams and earned the degree of my dreams and guys until I had
degree of my dreams and guys until I had
degree of my dreams and guys until I had kids I cherished that medical degree
kids I cherished that medical degree
kids I cherished that medical degree more than anything after graduation we
more than anything after graduation we
more than anything after graduation we started our practices like you guys just
started our practices like you guys just
started our practices like you guys just heard and they were wildly popular so
heard and they were wildly popular so
heard and they were wildly popular so much so that I actually had to develop a
much so that I actually had to develop a
much so that I actually had to develop a brand so that’s where cm MD came from my
brand so that’s where cm MD came from my
brand so that’s where cm MD came from my initials Christine Meyer MD got this
initials Christine Meyer MD got this
initials Christine Meyer MD got this little neat logo we had success by every
little neat logo we had success by every
little neat logo we had success by every measure I had a brand for God’s sake we
measure I had a brand for God’s sake we
measure I had a brand for God’s sake we had we had a beautiful home nice cars
had we had a beautiful home nice cars
had we had a beautiful home nice cars fun vacations we even had like 17
fun vacations we even had like 17
fun vacations we even had like 17 pillows on her bed life was fabulous and
pillows on her bed life was fabulous and
pillows on her bed life was fabulous and yet on December 31st 2012 at 4:30 p.m. I
yet on December 31st 2012 at 4:30 p.m. I
yet on December 31st 2012 at 4:30 p.m. I sat rapt in my coziest bathrobe staring
sat rapt in my coziest bathrobe staring
sat rapt in my coziest bathrobe staring blankly at a computer screen
blankly at a computer screen
blankly at a computer screen not thinking about a fabulous New Year’s
not thinking about a fabulous New Year’s
not thinking about a fabulous New Year’s Eve party but feeling sadness and dread
Eve party but feeling sadness and dread
Eve party but feeling sadness and dread why because on that New Year’s Eve I
why because on that New Year’s Eve I
why because on that New Year’s Eve I actually sucked as a physician
actually sucked as a physician
actually sucked as a physician think about that for a second you guys
think about that for a second you guys
think about that for a second you guys are just stepping on to this moving
are just stepping on to this moving
are just stepping on to this moving sidewalk that’s the pathway to your
sidewalk that’s the pathway to your
sidewalk that’s the pathway to your career and you have visualized every
career and you have visualized every
career and you have visualized every milestone along the way SAT score GPA
milestone along the way SAT score GPA
milestone along the way SAT score GPA college grad school all with one thing
college grad school all with one thing
college grad school all with one thing in your sights your career your life’s
in your sights your career your life’s
in your sights your career your life’s work as an engineer or a teacher a
work as an engineer or a teacher a
work as an engineer or a teacher a lawyer a doctor now imagine if that
lawyer a doctor now imagine if that
lawyer a doctor now imagine if that moving sidewalk ended at the very edge
moving sidewalk ended at the very edge
moving sidewalk ended at the very edge of a cliff
of a cliff
of a cliff you did it you made the grade you got
you did it you made the grade you got
you did it you made the grade you got into the school you earned the degree
into the school you earned the degree
into the school you earned the degree you got the job
you got the job
you got the job and then you sucked
and then you sucked
and then you sucked I think some of you would be wrapped in
I think some of you would be wrapped in
I think some of you would be wrapped in a bathrobe staring at a computer screen
a bathrobe staring at a computer screen
a bathrobe staring at a computer screen – so how did I get from having it all
– so how did I get from having it all
– so how did I get from having it all fabulousness – bone-crushing inadequacy
fabulousness – bone-crushing inadequacy
fabulousness – bone-crushing inadequacy my patients died
every career has its benchmarks right
every career has its benchmarks right engineers have groundbreaking designs to
engineers have groundbreaking designs to
engineers have groundbreaking designs to perfect teachers have young minds to
perfect teachers have young minds to
perfect teachers have young minds to mold lawyers have cases to win and
mold lawyers have cases to win and
mold lawyers have cases to win and doctors we have lives to save
doctors we have lives to save
doctors we have lives to save my patients dying seemed like felt like
my patients dying seemed like felt like
my patients dying seemed like felt like failure how could I someone who had
failure how could I someone who had
failure how could I someone who had never so much as failed a spelling test
never so much as failed a spelling test
never so much as failed a spelling test he failing so miserably at this career
he failing so miserably at this career
he failing so miserably at this career that I spent my entire life building
that I spent my entire life building
that I spent my entire life building here’s the thing my patients weren’t
here’s the thing my patients weren’t
here’s the thing my patients weren’t dying because I fail to diagnose them
dying because I fail to diagnose them
dying because I fail to diagnose them quickly enough or because I fail to
quickly enough or because I fail to
quickly enough or because I fail to prescribe the proper treatment
prescribe the proper treatment
prescribe the proper treatment they were dying because of a merciless
they were dying because of a merciless
they were dying because of a merciless indiscriminating beast called cancer and
indiscriminating beast called cancer and
indiscriminating beast called cancer and no matter how much time I spent with
no matter how much time I spent with
no matter how much time I spent with those patients how many articles I read
those patients how many articles I read
those patients how many articles I read how many specialists I referred them to
how many specialists I referred them to
how many specialists I referred them to my patients kept dying cancer kept
my patients kept dying cancer kept
my patients kept dying cancer kept winning this was the realization I came
winning this was the realization I came
winning this was the realization I came to while sitting in my bathroom staring
to while sitting in my bathroom staring
to while sitting in my bathroom staring at my computer screen that December 31st
at my computer screen that December 31st
at my computer screen that December 31st 2012 at 4:30 p.m. and it was in my
2012 at 4:30 p.m. and it was in my
2012 at 4:30 p.m. and it was in my mindless shameless facebook stocking and
mindless shameless facebook stocking and
mindless shameless facebook stocking and I know it’s Instagram now but I’m a mom
I know it’s Instagram now but I’m a mom
I know it’s Instagram now but I’m a mom in my 40s and for me it’s Facebook I
in my 40s and for me it’s Facebook I
in my 40s and for me it’s Facebook I came across a link to the Philadelphia
came across a link to the Philadelphia
came across a link to the Philadelphia Broad Street run the nation’s largest
Broad Street run the nation’s largest
Broad Street run the nation’s largest 10-mile Road race and it was coming in
10-mile Road race and it was coming in
10-mile Road race and it was coming in May just a few months away
and something crazy happened
and something crazy happened all of a sudden I felt a jolt of
all of a sudden I felt a jolt of
all of a sudden I felt a jolt of electricity it started in my toes went
electricity it started in my toes went
electricity it started in my toes went straight up my back to my head was so
straight up my back to my head was so
straight up my back to my head was so powerful
powerful
powerful in fact until that moment my hair was
in fact until that moment my hair was
in fact until that moment my hair was straight and then I knew it I I just
straight and then I knew it I I just
straight and then I knew it I I just knew it I figured it out I had this this
knew it I figured it out I had this this
knew it I figured it out I had this this feeling and it was hope for the first
feeling and it was hope for the first
feeling and it was hope for the first time in over a year I felt hopeful and
time in over a year I felt hopeful and
time in over a year I felt hopeful and excited about something and you right
excited about something and you right
excited about something and you right then and there
then and there
then and there I was gonna do it I was gonna run Broad
I was gonna do it I was gonna run Broad
I was gonna do it I was gonna run Broad Street I was gonna raise a few thousand
Street I was gonna raise a few thousand
Street I was gonna raise a few thousand dollars for the American Cancer Society
dollars for the American Cancer Society
dollars for the American Cancer Society it would be my way to fight back against
it would be my way to fight back against
it would be my way to fight back against cancer my way to maybe suck less
cancer my way to maybe suck less
cancer my way to maybe suck less there were two problems with my big plan
there were two problems with my big plan
there were two problems with my big plan though one I needed a team and by
though one I needed a team and by
though one I needed a team and by definition team means more than one so I
definition team means more than one so I
definition team means more than one so I was gonna have to get some people
was gonna have to get some people
was gonna have to get some people together and my second problem was that
together and my second problem was that
together and my second problem was that I was not a runner in fact until that
I was not a runner in fact until that
I was not a runner in fact until that moment I had taken the couch very
moment I had taken the couch very
moment I had taken the couch very seriously
seriously
seriously my idea of a tough workout was trying to
my idea of a tough workout was trying to
my idea of a tough workout was trying to climb the steps balancing a laundry
climb the steps balancing a laundry
climb the steps balancing a laundry basket on one hip and a cell phone on my
basket on one hip and a cell phone on my
basket on one hip and a cell phone on my ear it was not going to be easy
ear it was not going to be easy
ear it was not going to be easy the first thing I did was text three
the first thing I did was text three
the first thing I did was text three friends and I couldn’t believe it
friends and I couldn’t believe it
friends and I couldn’t believe it all three of them immediately said yes
all three of them immediately said yes
all three of them immediately said yes we’re doing this with you and I don’t
we’re doing this with you and I don’t
we’re doing this with you and I don’t believe the people out there that will
believe the people out there that will
believe the people out there that will tell you those three said yes because
tell you those three said yes because
tell you those three said yes because they were afraid of me I am NOT a scary
they were afraid of me I am NOT a scary
they were afraid of me I am NOT a scary person so there you have it I had my
person so there you have it I had my
person so there you have it I had my team four people team CM MD we called
team four people team CM MD we called
team four people team CM MD we called ourselves we took our message to anybody
ourselves we took our message to anybody
ourselves we took our message to anybody who would listen
who would listen
who would listen our patients our friends our families we
our patients our friends our families we
our patients our friends our families we talked about Broad Street we talked
talked about Broad Street we talked
talked about Broad Street we talked about cancer we talked about just
about cancer we talked about just
about cancer we talked about just feeling like you suck
feeling like you suck
feeling like you suck and something tremendous happened people
and something tremendous happened people
and something tremendous happened people started signing up for our team
started signing up for our team
started signing up for our team some were runners and really just always
some were runners and really just always
some were runners and really just always wanted to do Broad Street some actually
wanted to do Broad Street some actually
wanted to do Broad Street some actually hated to run but hated cancer more and
hated to run but hated cancer more and
hated to run but hated cancer more and some just hated themselves and felt like
some just hated themselves and felt like
some just hated themselves and felt like they really needed something good to be
they really needed something good to be
they really needed something good to be a part of
here we were team of four ended up being
here we were team of four ended up being a team of 44
a team of 44
a team of 44 all of a sudden my newest measure of
all of a sudden my newest measure of
all of a sudden my newest measure of success was the length of my broad
success was the length of my broad
success was the length of my broad street team roster every new name
street team roster every new name
street team roster every new name renewed that hope that I had just found
renewed that hope that I had just found
renewed that hope that I had just found fast forward five years to today
fast forward five years to today
fast forward five years to today November 11th 2017 where are we now as a
November 11th 2017 where are we now as a
November 11th 2017 where are we now as a team and as people
team and as people
team and as people that team of four I was telling you
that team of four I was telling you
that team of four I was telling you about
about
about now numbers 2031
now numbers 2031
now numbers 2031 that couple of thousand dollars we hope
that couple of thousand dollars we hope
that couple of thousand dollars we hope to raise for the American Cancer Society
to raise for the American Cancer Society
to raise for the American Cancer Society we have now raised over 1 million
we have now raised over 1 million
we have now raised over 1 million dollars for the American Cancer Society
dollars for the American Cancer Society
dollars for the American Cancer Society we have given hundreds of thousands of
we have given hundreds of thousands of
we have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to families struggling
dollars to families struggling
dollars to families struggling financially we’ve awarded over $100,000
financially we’ve awarded over $100,000
financially we’ve awarded over $100,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors
in scholarships to graduating seniors
in scholarships to graduating seniors whose lives have been touched by cancer
we host dedications runs
we host dedications runs we cook meals we collect gift cards we
we cook meals we collect gift cards we
we cook meals we collect gift cards we send
send
send handmade blankets and heartfelt prayers
handmade blankets and heartfelt prayers
handmade blankets and heartfelt prayers mostly we try to be stewards of kindness
mostly we try to be stewards of kindness
mostly we try to be stewards of kindness in our community
I’m telling you guys these things
I’m telling you guys these things because I want you to believe really
because I want you to believe really
because I want you to believe really believe that your worst moment may in
believe that your worst moment may in
believe that your worst moment may in fact be your aha moment your worst
fact be your aha moment your worst
fact be your aha moment your worst moment may be that lightbulb moment that
moment may be that lightbulb moment that
moment may be that lightbulb moment that changes lives
changes lives
changes lives so what about us the people so despite a
so what about us the people so despite a
so what about us the people so despite a medically documented dependency on cake
medically documented dependency on cake
medically documented dependency on cake pie ice cream marshmallows in any shape
pie ice cream marshmallows in any shape
pie ice cream marshmallows in any shape estate of freshness I stand before you
estate of freshness I stand before you
estate of freshness I stand before you in the best physical shape of my life
more importantly I’m in the best mental
more importantly I’m in the best mental shape of my life I am fulfilled and
shape of my life I am fulfilled and
shape of my life I am fulfilled and grateful the cancer patients I’m honored
grateful the cancer patients I’m honored
grateful the cancer patients I’m honored to meet everyday have changed me as a
to meet everyday have changed me as a
to meet everyday have changed me as a physician and as a person
physician and as a person
physician and as a person you
you
you you
you
you you
I’m old now that Dean left I’m the
I’m old now that Dean left I’m the oldest one here so those cancer patients
oldest one here so those cancer patients
oldest one here so those cancer patients have changed me for the better no doubt
have changed me for the better no doubt
have changed me for the better no doubt and what about our team we are the
and what about our team we are the
and what about our team we are the wackiest group of 2031 people you’re
wackiest group of 2031 people you’re
wackiest group of 2031 people you’re ever going to meet we are engineers
ever going to meet we are engineers
ever going to meet we are engineers teachers lawyers and doctors
teachers lawyers and doctors
teachers lawyers and doctors we’re also mechanics laborers
we’re also mechanics laborers
we’re also mechanics laborers stay-at-home moms and single dads we
stay-at-home moms and single dads we
stay-at-home moms and single dads we range in age from 6 to 76
range in age from 6 to 76
range in age from 6 to 76 we are couch potatoes struggling to
we are couch potatoes struggling to
we are couch potatoes struggling to climb up a flight of stairs and we are
climb up a flight of stairs and we are
climb up a flight of stairs and we are ultra marathoners and we are connected
ultra marathoners and we are connected
ultra marathoners and we are connected by three things one
by three things one
by three things one our shared mission it is universally
our shared mission it is universally
our shared mission it is universally relevant and it’s laser-focused to our
relevant and it’s laser-focused to our
relevant and it’s laser-focused to our social media engagement we only use it
social media engagement we only use it
social media engagement we only use it for good and three yes
you
you the only slide I’ll show you today the
the only slide I’ll show you today the
the only slide I’ll show you today the little green bumper magnet
little green bumper magnet
little green bumper magnet this magnet that first year started
this magnet that first year started
this magnet that first year started popping up all over town and then across
popping up all over town and then across
popping up all over town and then across towns and then even across states
towns and then even across states
towns and then even across states somewhere along the way flipping the
somewhere along the way flipping the
somewhere along the way flipping the magnet became a thing if a teammate saw
magnet became a thing if a teammate saw
magnet became a thing if a teammate saw magnet on a parked car they would
magnet on a parked car they would
magnet on a parked car they would quickly run over to him flip it upside
quickly run over to him flip it upside
quickly run over to him flip it upside down and then run away it was it was
down and then run away it was it was
down and then run away it was it was like a secret handshake that no one ever
like a secret handshake that no one ever
like a secret handshake that no one ever saw it said I see you I’m with you we’re
saw it said I see you I’m with you we’re
saw it said I see you I’m with you we’re in this together
in this together
in this together it was so cute just come out to my car
it was so cute just come out to my car
it was so cute just come out to my car and see little kids like scurrying away
and see little kids like scurrying away
and see little kids like scurrying away from from the back I knew what they had
from from the back I knew what they had
from from the back I knew what they had just done was not so cute though coming
just done was not so cute though coming
just done was not so cute though coming out one day to find a grown man crouched
out one day to find a grown man crouched
out one day to find a grown man crouched behind my bumper shrouded in a hoodie in
behind my bumper shrouded in a hoodie in
behind my bumper shrouded in a hoodie in the pitch black of the night I was
the pitch black of the night I was
the pitch black of the night I was seconds from pushing my little alarm on
seconds from pushing my little alarm on
seconds from pushing my little alarm on the key fob before I recognized him as a
the key fob before I recognized him as a
the key fob before I recognized him as a teammate so yeah the straight-up magnet
teammate so yeah the straight-up magnet
teammate so yeah the straight-up magnet has been a symbol of pride for everyone
has been a symbol of pride for everyone
has been a symbol of pride for everyone associated with our team but the
associated with our team but the
associated with our team but the upside-down magnet that magnet is so
upside-down magnet that magnet is so
upside-down magnet that magnet is so much more it’s the arm around drooping
much more it’s the arm around drooping
much more it’s the arm around drooping shoulders it’s a much needed hug that
shoulders it’s a much needed hug that
shoulders it’s a much needed hug that you are too embarrassed to ask for or to
you are too embarrassed to ask for or to
you are too embarrassed to ask for or to give it is the tangible evidence of
give it is the tangible evidence of
give it is the tangible evidence of being a part of something good our
being a part of something good our
being a part of something good our magnet has been on the family Volvo
magnet has been on the family Volvo
magnet has been on the family Volvo since Maisie was barely old enough to
since Maisie was barely old enough to
since Maisie was barely old enough to sit in the front seat till today when
sit in the front seat till today when
sit in the front seat till today when she’s the only one who drives that car
she’s the only one who drives that car
she’s the only one who drives that car and I’m embarrassed to say she drives it
and I’m embarrassed to say she drives it
and I’m embarrassed to say she drives it better than I ever did um did you guys
better than I ever did um did you guys
better than I ever did um did you guys know that you can successfully back out
know that you can successfully back out
know that you can successfully back out of a windy driveway not hit a mailbox
of a windy driveway not hit a mailbox
of a windy driveway not hit a mailbox and not use a backup camera you just
and not use a backup camera you just
and not use a backup camera you just have to use your sideview mirrors
have to use your sideview mirrors
have to use your sideview mirrors who knew that my my Maisie taught me
who knew that my my Maisie taught me
who knew that my my Maisie taught me that the the bumper magnet has traversed
that the the bumper magnet has traversed
that the the bumper magnet has traversed the entire East Coast on family road
the entire East Coast on family road
the entire East Coast on family road trips those are fun right and has even
trips those are fun right and has even
trips those are fun right and has even made it to the Tuscan wine country on
made it to the Tuscan wine country on
made it to the Tuscan wine country on the back of a tour van it has held up
the back of a tour van it has held up
the back of a tour van it has held up aggressive reminders to bring milk home
aggressive reminders to bring milk home
aggressive reminders to bring milk home or die and
friendly notes from passers-by who just
friendly notes from passers-by who just acknowledge our team my magnet is faded
acknowledge our team my magnet is faded
acknowledge our team my magnet is faded and it’s dusty but it remains a daily
and it’s dusty but it remains a daily
and it’s dusty but it remains a daily reminder that it is how we measure
reminder that it is how we measure
reminder that it is how we measure success that’s really important
success that’s really important
success that’s really important you all will get to your career as an
you all will get to your career as an
you all will get to your career as an engineer a teacher lawyer or doctor and
engineer a teacher lawyer or doctor and
engineer a teacher lawyer or doctor and you will have success by every one of
you will have success by every one of
you will have success by every one of the standard measures you will perfect
the standard measures you will perfect
the standard measures you will perfect groundbreaking designs you will mold
groundbreaking designs you will mold
groundbreaking designs you will mold countless minds you will win cases and
countless minds you will win cases and
countless minds you will win cases and you will save lives
you will save lives
you will save lives but at some point you will also suck and
but at some point you will also suck and
but at some point you will also suck and before that happens before it happens
before that happens before it happens
before that happens before it happens change the way you measure your success
change the way you measure your success
change the way you measure your success not as a budding engineer teacher lawyer
not as a budding engineer teacher lawyer
not as a budding engineer teacher lawyer or doctor but as a human
or doctor but as a human
or doctor but as a human stand for something important
stand for something important
stand for something important unite a community
unite a community
unite a community be sought out
embrace those flips in other words be a
embrace those flips in other words be a magnet
magnet
magnet thank you guys
thank you guys
thank you guys [Applause]
”
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