Today we celebrate Willie’s supporters; who, in just 3 short months, raised $64,582.08 (!!) in his name to help fund further research for Head & Neck Cancer and fight this horrible disease alongside Mass Eye & Ear and the dedicated doctors who fought for him. Yes, Dad. This deserves a Manhattan.
The past 132 days without my Dad have been tremendously difficult and exceedingly emotional, to say the least… and I won’t deny that taking on The Willie Fund has, at times, added to that. It’s easy to let the reminiscing of what he was begin to instead serve as a reminder of what we lost. It’s easy to let the hopeful discussions of all the good our donations are supporting, morph into selfish thoughts that it isn’t in time to help save my Dad.
A couple nights ago I was texting back and forth with one of my best friends and admitted to her there were moments of bittersweetness during this… I missed him. I wanted him to be here, to be the one to receive all these progressive treatments we are fighting for. She responded; “think of the daughter that will get more time with her Dad because of your work. You are changing lives.”
That stuck.
I thought of the last few months that we gained being a family of 5 because of the research of those before him. Yes, it could’ve been more, but if it wasn’t for organizations like The Willie Fund… if it wasn’t for donors like you… maybe it could have been less.
I’m not going to say it won’t be hard, as I know grief has a way of sticking around… but beyond that, there is a chance to be a teeny tiny part of an amazingly greater change. A change that will help future families stay together. And for that, I am honored, I am humbled and I am ready to kick Head & Neck Cancer’s ass in 2022 and all the years to come.
So. On behalf of the future families. On behalf of my family. On behalf of Willie. Thank you tons & tons. Your support means everything.
