This week at training I shared my mom's story during our team "mission moment" - when we honor someone who has been affected by blood cancer or LLS in some way. It's a chance to remind us all, the reasons we are out there training, fundraising and working hard. It's the inspiration that drives us.
I requested to dedicate this week's training to my mom because it was held at Mare Island, a place that I frequented as a child growing up, and fittingly, it was almost always with my mom. She loved to exercise at this Vallejo waterfront, early in the morning, walking the length of it several times as we talked about anything and everything.
Here's what I shared with my team today:
I lost my mother Carina to lymphoma 7 years ago. She was diagnosed one month before my wedding day and I had no idea if she would be there to see me walk down the aisle on the most important day of my life. Thankfully, the universe gave me a break and she was released from the hospital less than a week to my wedding, after having undergone several weeks of aggressive chemotherapy. Her hair was very thin and she lost so much weight her dress had to be taken in at the last minute, but all that mattered was that she was there. And although she fought her hardest, she passed away 8 months later. When I became a mother for the first time, I found myself grieving all over again, for the grandmother my son would never have. It was at that point I knew that the best way for my son to know who she was, was to pass on the life lessons she taught me.
The most valuable lesson my mom taught me was to always lend a hand and help those less fortunate than ourselves; and that if you give to others, your reward will be tenfold. From a very early age I accompanied her as she volunteered at our church, soup kitchens, food banks, the library, and the hospital. I learned that giving was so much more rewarding than receiving, and that true integrity came not from what you do for yourself, but what you do for others.
I joined Team in Training to continue her legacy of giving, especially to those patients and families who have been affected by blood cancers. I hope that my efforts will give them the resources and support to continue fighting where my mom left off. I also hope that walking those 13 miles will honor my mother’s life, and that my two sons will now learn from my example, just as I learned from hers.
In addition to dedicating this week's training to my mom, all my teammates wore her picture pinned to their hat or shirt as they trained.
It was an emotional but rewarding day. A big thank you to my Solano Team for the love and support!
P.S. I walked 7 miles today and had my fastest time yet - 15.4 mins/mile. Yay me!!
Despite drawing a lot of her inspiration and motivation from her mother, Gigi herself is very inspiring. The hardworking professional she is, Gigi commutes to South SF to work FULL-TIME then she comes home and continues to work FULL-TIME as a mother- cooking dinner, feeding the boys and getting the kiddos ready for bed. And after she does all that, she prepares to do the same grind the next day- laying out the boys clothes, making Cruz's fancy lunch, and getting the menu ready for the next night's dinner. If that's not enough, she gives herself to friends and family, often volunteering to cook dinners and plan her nieces parties. At the end of the day I look at my wife and think, my wife is a doer, fighter and inspirer- she gets the job DONE exceptionally, she FIGHTS to excel in her professional life, and she INSPIRES those around her to become better people. Like Gigi said above, "It's the inspiration that drives us." She gives me the drive to be a better person. I am truly a lucky man to be married to such an amazing wife, mother and teammate!
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