Lionel Sydney Jessop
Oct 26, 1942-Sept 17,1996
My Dad passed away on the morning of September 17, 1996 just shy of his 54th birthday, after an 11 year battle with Lymphoma. I was 13 when he was diagnosed, he was the young age of 42. Cancer simply became a part of our lives. Being so young I know I didn't completely comprehend what was happening but over the years it just became commonplace in our household to talk about lymph nodes, chemotherapy, tumors, surgery, white blood counts, red blood counts, platelets... and on and on...but death never came up. It just wasn't an option. I remember weekly checkups on Monday's at Princess Margaret Hospital, I remember leaving flowers on his nightstand after a round of chemo but looking back what I remember most was a fighting spirit. It must have taken everything in him to carry on with such bravery and strength. I never heard him complain, never saw him cry, even in his darkest times he protected us from the fear and pain he must truly have been feeling. If that's not the definition of a hero I don't know what is.
When I first signed up to volunteer for the Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer Event I'll be honest, I had no idea what it was all about. I saw a "tweet" from someone saying that volunteers were needed and I signed up. As the weeks have gone by I have realized what a huge event this is going to be and I couldn't be more proud to be a part of it in my Dad's memory.
Oct 26, 1942-Sept 17,1996
My Dad passed away on the morning of September 17, 1996 just shy of his 54th birthday, after an 11 year battle with Lymphoma. I was 13 when he was diagnosed, he was the young age of 42. Cancer simply became a part of our lives. Being so young I know I didn't completely comprehend what was happening but over the years it just became commonplace in our household to talk about lymph nodes, chemotherapy, tumors, surgery, white blood counts, red blood counts, platelets... and on and on...but death never came up. It just wasn't an option. I remember weekly checkups on Monday's at Princess Margaret Hospital, I remember leaving flowers on his nightstand after a round of chemo but looking back what I remember most was a fighting spirit. It must have taken everything in him to carry on with such bravery and strength. I never heard him complain, never saw him cry, even in his darkest times he protected us from the fear and pain he must truly have been feeling. If that's not the definition of a hero I don't know what is.
When I first signed up to volunteer for the Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer Event I'll be honest, I had no idea what it was all about. I saw a "tweet" from someone saying that volunteers were needed and I signed up. As the weeks have gone by I have realized what a huge event this is going to be and I couldn't be more proud to be a part of it in my Dad's memory.
Click here to see the staggering amount of money raised by Toronto Teams participating in the Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer Event!! Awesome job to all who are participating and everyone who sponsored them!!
If you are interested in making your own donation to this great event in honour of someone you love please click here.
If you are interested in making your own donation to this great event in honour of someone you love please click here.
There are 54 Celebrities on the roster to be participating tomorrow! Sad that I don't see my beloved Dougie Gilmour on the list though... maybe he'll be making a surprise appearance just for me!!?? He did tweet me on my anniversary after all!! Sigh..a girl can dream <3
A special shoutout to my cousin Lori who is currenlty fighting her own battle against this awful disease...
Look Well to This Day
Anonymous, 50 B.C.
Look well to this day,
For it and it alone is life.
In its brief course
Lie all the essence of your existence:
The Glory of Growth
The Satisfaction of Achievement
The Splendor of Beauty
For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is but a vision.
But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a
vision of hope.
Look Well to This Day
Anonymous, 50 B.C.
Look well to this day,
For it and it alone is life.
In its brief course
Lie all the essence of your existence:
The Glory of Growth
The Satisfaction of Achievement
The Splendor of Beauty
For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is but a vision.
But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a
vision of hope.
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