It’s time to get personal.
I’ve had enough of cancer and it’s ugly self lately. My roommate from college has a beautiful little girl that was diagnosed with childhood leukemia and has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments — tough on a three-year-old little body. My dad went in to get a cyst removed from his eyelid before getting married last summer, and we found out that it was carcinoma. A few months ago, my great uncle had a cancerous tumor removed from his lip.
And now cancer has struck the Dallas Stars family. Julie Dobbs, who has worked with the Dallas Stars Foundation previously and currently works on the Stars Insider show for Fox Sports Southwest, has been diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer.
Cancer can go take a long walk off a short pier.
Julie is my age (28) so this one kind of hits closer to home because of it. She’s documenting her journey in this fight (make sure to check it out here) and what she said in her first entry is very true — you really don’t think it could happen to you. We think we’re “too young” for something so serious to strike. You don’t really do those examinations that your doctor asks you if you’re doing at home.
The truth is….you’re never too old or too young for cancer to pick you as it’s next victim. Going to the doctor for all those preventive check-ups is key to catching things early. And don’t ever ignore your body and what it’s trying to tell you. Get checked, people.
The Dallas Stars are hosting a watching party that will benefit Julie in her fight against this cancer. Won’t you come out to help show your support? Here’s the details:
When: Thursday, November 7th at 6 PM CST
Where: Sherlock’s Baker St. Pub & Grill [9100 N. Central Expressway, Dallas, TX 75231]
What: Dallas Stars vs Detroit Red Wings
Why: You’ll get a chance to wear pink to show your support as well as an opportunity to bid on unique items (player signed pink taped sticks, pucks, and other goodies.)
I’ll be there and I’ll be wearing my pink to not only show my support, but as a reminder to myself to live every day with the full knowledge that you never know what could happen tomorrow — and I’ll never take my pretty hair for granted again, either.
If you’re not able to make it out to the watch party in person, and would like to donate to help cover Julie’s medical expenses (cancer isn’t cheap by any stretch of the imagination, even with insurance), you can give here if you are so moved.