Personal Profiles
December 20, 2010
Jessica Sebring: Inspired to 'Fight for Life'
Jessica Sebring, far right, with her uncle, her mother, and Dr. Linda Wang.
September 19th, 2009, was a gloomy afternoon. That was the day my dad came into my room and told me he needed to talk to me.
Just three years earlier, my dad weighed 350 pounds, had major surgery, and became an exercise fanatic to save his life. He turned his life inside out and upside down, and, on top of his surgery, did everything he had to do to lose 200 pounds. He didn't want to miss out on precious moments and spending time with the many incredible people he had in his life.
When he entered, I immediately knew something was not right, but never in a million years could I have guessed what he was about to say to me. He sat down next to me, turned to me with tears in his eyes, and told me he was dying.
He had a rare but aggressive form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma. Just two hours before our talk, my dad found out that he had stage IV cancer and was given a year to live.
My dad soon after called Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and scheduled his first appointment.
The 'Bridge of Hope'
During the course of my dad's visits to Dana-Farber, we would go through a series of enclosed bridges that connect the Institute to surrounding hospitals.
One bridge in particular caught my eye: the "Bridge of Hope." It is a lengthy bridge painted baby blue with various birds covering the walls. Assorted engraved plaques on the walls honor or remember loved ones.
One day, as I was walking through, it hit me: somehow I was going to raise $10,000 and have a platinum plaque mounted on the bridge for my father.
I started out simply wanting to honor my father and place his name on that wonderful bridge. That all changed when I realized how truly inspirational Dana-Farber is and how absolutely terrible cancer is.
Even though I did not quite recognize the feeling at first, I was happy every time I went into Dana-Farber, whether I was going to hear the results of my dad's new dose of chemotherapy, or to support him when the tumor in his throat was being radiated. Dana-Farber reminded me that even in this crazy, twisted world, there are still angels and those angels make miracles happen every day.
The 'Fight for Life'
I had determined that I was going to raise money and join the fight against cancer, but how would I do it?
I decided to start what I called my "Fight for Life" fundraiser.
My dad had inseparable bonds with his friends. They were watching him deteriorate and there was nothing they could do to stop it. This fundraiser was a way to help them do something for their best friend. I sent a letter to them: his friends, our family, our neighbors, and his co-workers.
Eventually the letter got around not only to the people connected to my father, but also people close to my mother and me. Restaurants and shops around town were gracious enough to let me put collection boxes on their premises.
The checks started coming in and kept coming: some as big as $1,000 and some as small as $1.
I kept my fundraiser a secret from my dad. My plan was to present the plaque and check to him in front of his family, friends, and colleagues at his 51st birthday celebration.
On May 5, 2010, just 19 days before his birthday, my dad left this world. He was surrounded by his family and friends. My dad loved and was well loved. I can honestly say that he was and always will be the most important person in my life.
On his birthday, we decided to hold the celebration. We did it not only to honor my father's life but also to mark the day that we exceeded my initial goal and donated $30,000 to Dr. Linda Wang's Merkel Cell Carcinoma Research Fund at Dana-Farber.
To Give and Receive
I now know that a positive attitude can and will make a difference in the life of a cancer patient, but it alone is not enough. There needs to be more research on treatments for cancer, including stage IV Merkel cell carcinoma, which of course needs to be backed by more money.
There is nothing I can do to bring my dad back. My fundraiser, however, is a way for me to help prevent other children from losing their parents to such a deadly disease.
I encourage other children who have lost parents to cancer to honor them by supporting research into new treatments and cures. Losing a parent is a negative situation no matter how you look at it, but we can bring hope to others who need it now.
If my fundraiser affects just one life, I will be satisfied. If just one father gets to walk his daughter down the aisle for her wedding, I'll be happy. If one husband gets to celebrate his 20th anniversary with his wife, I'll be happy. And if one man gets to see his next birthday, I'll be happy.
Jessica is 17 years old and a senior in high school. She can be contacted via e-mail at jsebring143@yahoo.com.
