One year ago, when President-elect Barack Obama spoke to supporters in Nashua, New Hampshire after losing that state’s first-in-the-nation Democratic primary to Sen. Hillary Clinton, little did I realize that the stirring speech I heard on that cold New Hampshire night would go down in history. That its closing words would become a national mantra; a phrase that, on the eve of our new President’s inauguration, rings again in my ears, and sings in my heart:
Yes we can.
Listening to our new President’s speech once again, I realize that many of his words relate directly to our experience with cancer. Cancer is trying to destroy us, just like economic crisis, wars, and a loss of hope have been trying to destroy America.
But I believe President Obama will mobilize us to work together towards a new and better country. And I believe that together, we sisters in survivorship will build new and better lives for ourselves, and for our families and friends.
Today, as a new day in America is about to dawn, let’s listen again to parts of that landmark speech. And understand how it relates to us not only as Americans, but as cancer survivors.
We knew our climb would be steep…
When the doctor told us we had cancer, and outlined our treatment plan, we did know our climb would be steep. Surgery, chemo, radiation, drugs, pain, fear, uncertainty… that’s a rocky path. But with the help of many, and our own strength, we can navigate that path back to health.
Yes we can.
When men and women… come out in the snows of January to wait in lines that stretch block after block because they believe…
When we travel to the hospital every day for six weeks… When we take drugs that make us vomit… When we choose to cut off our breasts… It’s because we believe. We believe that we can beat cancer.
Yes we can.
Whether we are rich or poor, black or white, Latino or Asian, whether we hale from Iowa or New Hampshire or Nevada or South Carolina, we are ready…
Whoever we are, wherever we live, our spirit is strong. We are ready to fight the battle, to win the war. To defeat this cancer that’s in us.
Yes we can.
You… all who put so much heart and soul and work into this campaign… Democrats, Independents, and Republicans… If we mobilize our voices… to challenge ourselves to reach for something better, there is no problem we cannot solve. There is no destiny we cannot fulfill.
We go to our jobs every day. We feed our families, help with homework, volunteer at the homeless shelter, support the team. We put our heart and soul and work into our everyday lives while dealing with cancer. And we know that there’s no problem we cannot solve; no destiny we cannot fulfill, including the most important one of all: beating cancer and living our lives fully. Simply being there, for family and friends.
Yes we can.
