IT'S THE SMALL THINGS In light of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) and how close the advocacy is to my heart, this month, I continue to bring awareness to a cause I hold dear. Today, I choose to write about a woman who has been extremely encouraging and inspirational in this arena – someone, who makes the battle a little easier, much more uplifting and because of her own story, is testament that you can win! Fighting cancer is essentially fighting for life, and no one ever wishes to be in this scenario. Yet, truth is, some find themselves in the situation, and it is normal to go through a sudden mix of emotions – from being aghast and angry, to sad and resentful. As the saying goes, it takes one to know one, and there is no one else who can give a fellow cancer warrior the necessary support and empathy than someone who has fought through themselves. Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, the founding president of I Can Serve Foundation is that sister, and more. When I asked her to put into words a testament of her journey to healing and the “why” in her mission, she sent me several paragraphs full of substance that fully encapsulate her being, grace and worth. It would be an injustice to change words so well-said. Here is Kara’s personal statement on why the cancer journey is indeed life changing, but need not always be so grim: “Once you are told you have cancer; you feel many things at the same time. You’re shocked, stunned, sad, depressed, angry, in denial, or full of regret for not being vigilant about your health. It can be overwhelming, but you need to find your center. And you will.” “You will need to take charge of your care. You will need to be a partner in your own healing along with your medical team and your family and friends. You will need to have a say and that begins by knowing more, reading up on your cancer, talking to experts, and those who have grappled with the Big C. Think of it as building a team. You need to know who to tap, and identify the tools you need, to get to where you want to go.” “It is not an easy journey, but an enriching one. You gain more knowledge, you tend to study all you can about your illness, family history, risk, and apply this to other possible illnesses you are prone to. Before you know it, you are truly in charge of your total wellness. You grow closer to your team – your family, friends, and newfound friends like doctors, and other cancer survivors – who nourish and sustain you through your journey and beyond. It is a humbling experience knowing you cannot do it alone. You need everybody. I assure you; your life will also be touched by kind strangers who only have your best intentions in mind.” “The spiritual journey is an experience without equal. All your life you plan and plot your future. You are in control, then out of nowhere, you are told you have cancer. This makes you realize you were never in total control . You feel betrayed in a way. You have been driven but realize that someone has been the driver all this time. At that point, you are desperate to live and just surrender to the higher being you believe in.” “And you realize life is easier to hack if you trust in your God’s will from the get go. You cannot insist on your will. You have to discern His. If you do not believe in a higher being, let go and let things be, and take charge. Forge ahead. No looking back.” “Cancer is just another life-changing crisis; life-defining experience. We will each have a life crisis; it just happens to be cancer for some of us. Cancer or crisis yields many gifts. We become wounded healers. We become calmer before the next crisis knowing we will get through it because believe it or not, the world is ‘littered’ with many good souls who will rally behind, and beside us. And because we know our prayers are always answered better than what we prayed for.” I share Kara’s words when she says, “Why shy away from a crisis? What is there to fear? It can only make you better.” As she always says, “The greatest fear to cancer is not death, but a life led without meaning.”