Apr. 24--MORGANTON -- A top ten list of why someone should love being a cancer survivor kicked off the keynote speech during a survivor dinner.
Tyson Rodriguez, 33, a survivor of small intestine cancer, delivered a speech filled with hope to a room full of other cancer survivors and supporters on Thursday evening at Grace Episcopal Church.
Among the things Rodriguez listed were overcoming her fear of needles, keeping up with the latest fashions and celebrity gossip from magazines in waiting rooms and most importantly, seeing her name in the lights during the Relay for Life survivor lap.
Rodriguez was diagnosed with cancer four years ago after 10 months of symptoms. After surgery and six months of chemotherapy, Rodriguez was labeled as cancer free. Last summer, she found out the cancer had moved to her lung, and once again she underwent surgery and chemotherapy.
Rodriguez injected her speech with comedic bits, but the underlying message was one of hope and encouragement.
In an obvious exaggeration, Rodriguez allegedly saw a mother sloth wake up, feed her children, climb a tree and engage in various activities while waiting in the oncology waiting room one time.
Her comparison of the wait that cancer patients go through to the movements of a sloth emphasized the vast amount of time spent in waiting rooms. Rodriguez, without complaint, said cancer patients wait for doctors, results, tests, the next treatment and for a cure for cancer.
"We still wait on a cure ? waiting is tough. Sometimes waiting is agony," Rodriguez said. She immediately followed this up by answering her own question on why anyone should keep trying.
Rodriguez said as patients wait, the strength within them grows despite the waiting. "While we wait, we aren't weak," Rodriguez said emphatically.
A few audience members silently wiped their tears as the encouraging undertones of Rodriguez's speech reverberated through the room.
Rodriguez segued into door prizes and awarded supporters and cancer survivors with various gifts.
Earlier in the evening, Relay for Life organizers rushed to add tables and chairs as more attendees than expected arrived. Family and friends joined cancer survivors and filled up all the seats available in the fellowship hall.
Live music permeated the air and created a festive atmosphere along with the purple balloons and flowery centerpieces.
Chic-Fil-A donated the food for the dinner, and members of the Beta Club at Walter Johnson Middle School assisted in serving the food to attendees.
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