Cancer awareness month stirs memories

Eariler this month I put a post on Facebook that I was looking for a Franklin County resident who was a breast cancer survivor. I received many replies on my wall and in my inbox in a matter of minutes.

This made me realize that cancer, no matter which type it may be, affects many people in many places.

I’ve been aware of cancer since I was very young because my grandfather, Pie Seal, died from cancer-related complications when I was almost four years old.

I don’t remember very much about him because of my young age, but there are a few things I remember.

I remember staying with my grandmother, known as Greatmommy to me and Olene to everyone else, during the day sometimes.

When it would get to be lunchtime, we would go sit on the porch swing and wait for Greatdaddy to come home for lunch.

Greatdaddy worked at a filling station in town, and when he would come home, he always had a moon pie ready to hand me as soon as he got out of his truck.

I remember sitting with him in his hospital room after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. I don’t remember it as a scary place because Greatdaddy always seemed to have a smile on his face. I remember sitting on the bed with him and eating Raisinettes and drinking apple juice.

I remember his laugh. I know I was very young when he passed away, but I’ve seen home movies over the years, and when Greatdaddy would laugh in those movies, I knew it was a sound I recognized.

I cherish the few personal memories I have of my Greatdaddy and I cherish the stories that have been shared about him over the years.

I know that many other people who have been affected by cancer could say the same about the memories and stories of their loved ones.

Cancer, in every form, is a very ugly thing. Hopefully people will be “aware” of cancer throughout the year, not just during a designated month, and hopefully that awareness can someday bring about a cure.