Kickoff at Berkeley

8.2.08
Today was my first time meeting so many people at TNT. As an honoree, I was to arrive an hour earlier at 9:00am, but having been so lazy for so long, I certainly was not used to waking up so early. Yet with Derek's reliable support to me, we both got up and got ourselves on there on time. The only problem was that once we entered, I got so excited and distracted that we were a little late to the honoree room.

I was immediately greeted by Glenn, and I was so happy because he's so warm and friendly. There were around 20 honorees in the room at most. In many ways, I felt like home with everyone else. In another way, I felt wierd being so special in an already inspiring organization. Right now, I have a hunch that every single memory I will have with TNT will be just one word: inspirational.

A key example was when Jenn introduced herself and said that she had a BMT in her early 20's as well. And now, she has her "miracle child". :) That is so wonderful for me to hear, because I was also once told that it would be almost impossible to have kids. I hardly ever meet other BMT survivors near my age. I know her daughter must mean so much to her and she is someone I look up to.

Then we watched the slideshow video in the autditorium and I was filled with emotion and tears just like the info meeting (which is what led me to the kickoff). Being with others who not only doesn't judge me, but is helping me in a continuous, positive force, is tremendously helping me heal all my scars. I think that is the main reason why I am so grateful for everyone's genuine dedication. Not only is everyone working hard to save lives for all in their own way, but this marathon's existence in itself, is actually helping me move on. I feel like I can crawl back into the world as a what I consider to be a normal person, one step at a time. That, I can never say thank you enough for.