Worth Passing On

We all receive emails from folks sending us various stories. Some we simply hit the delete key when we see them, others we may read then consign to the recycle bin and others, for some reason, we read and keep. The following is one I kept and is worth passing on:

A handsome, middle-aged man walked quietly into the cafe and sat down. before he ordered, he couldn't help but notice a group of younger men at the table next to him. It was obvious they were making fun fun of something about him, and it wasn't until he remembered he was wearing a small pink ribbon on the lapel of his suit that he became aware of what the joke was all about.

The man brushed off the reaction as ignorance, but the smirks began to get to him. He looked one of the rude men square in the eye, placed his hand beneath the ribbon and asked, quizzically: "This?" With that the men all began to laugh out loud.

The man he addressed said, as he fought back laughter, "Hey sorry man, but we were just commenting how pretty your pink ribbon looks against your blue jacket!"

 The middle-aged man calmly motioned for the joker to come over to his table, and invited him to sit down. As uncomfortable as he was, the guy obliged, not really sure why. In a soft voice the older man said, "I wear this ribbon to bring awareness about breast cancer. I wear it in my mother's honor."

"Oh sorry dude. She died of breast cancer?"

"No she didn't. She's alive and well. But her breasts nourished me as an infant, and were a soft resting place for my head when I was scared or lonely as a little boy. I'm very grateful for my mother's breasts and her health." "Ummm," the stranger replied, "yeah."

"And I wear this ribbon to honor my wife," the man went on.

"And she's okay too?" The other guy asked.

"Oh yes, she's fine. Her breasts have been a great source of loving pleasure for both of us, and with them she nurtured and nourished our beautiful daughter 23 years ago. I am grateful for her breasts and for her health."   

"Uh huh.And I guess you wear it to honor your daughter also?" 

"No. It's to late to honor my daughter by wearing it now. My daughter died of breast cancer one month ago. She thought she was too young to have breast cancer, so when she accidentally noticed a small lump, she ignored it. She thought that since it wasn't painful, it must not be anything to worry about."

Shaken and ashamed, the now sober stranger said: "Oh man, I'm so sorry mister." 

"So, in my daughter's memory too, I proudly wear this little ribbon, which allows me the opportunity to enlighten others. Now, go home and talk to your wife and your daughters, your mother and your friends. And here," the man reached in his pocket and handed the other man a little pink ribbon.

The guy looked at it, slowly raised his head and asked: "Can ya help me put it on?" 

It is most probable that each of us knows someone who has battled this dreaded disease called cancer. Like the victims it strikes, there are many types of cancer. Its victims fit no demographic, they are of all colors, both genders and it crosses economic and social lines with impunity.

This year alone it is estimated more than 1,500 people a day will die from some form of this disease, according to the American Cancer Society. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States, exceeded only by heart disease.

Most cancers are treatable and the number of cancer survivors increases every year. The key to effective treatment is early detection. Talk with your health care provider if you have any concerns. Don't wait until its too late. It's your life and what you do with it affects those you love and those who care about you.