Mission Moment - Amanda Goble (Team In Training Campaign Coordinator)

A personal message from Amanda Goble:

This past Christmas I had the opportunity to visit the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for an arts and crafts day that was set-up through our Patient Services department. It was one of the most rewarding, yet difficult days I have ever had. We were stationed in the oncology department and went room-to-room talking and playing with the children who were all battling some form of cancer. Their ages ranged from just months old to 19. I spent a significant amount of time in a little five-year-old boy's room who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. I brought in my art supplies but quickly realized that he had too much energy to simply sit with a crayon in his hand. He had just been given a racetrack for the holidays, which still sat unopened in the box, and he asked if I would help him assemble it. I gladly accepted his request.

While my construction skills were lacking, (who knew a kids toy could be so difficult to put together) we were both able to laugh at my inability to follow the instructions. Watching him smile and make fun of my struggles made me completely forget that I was wearing a hospital gown and gloves. He showed me that cancer cannot take away the spirit or youthfulness of a child, even with tubes coming out of his arm or with very little hair left on his head. With his mom's help we successfully completed the racetrack, and then he proceeded to take me on and thoroughly beat me in a game of Candyland.

I was forced back into a reality check when a nurse came in and asked him if he wanted to play Bingo. He eagerly nodded and we turned the on the TV to the event channel and waited for the start of the game. I looked at his board and instead of seeing B-9 or N-43 the spaces were filled with things such as IV bag, blood transfusion and stitches. I was quickly reminded that his days weren't all filled with racetracks and Candyland, but rather with the things that were starring at us from that sheet of paper. But it was my hope that, maybe if only for a few minutes, he also forgot about the reality of his fight against cancer.

I walked out of all of those rooms with a newfound perspective and it made me so proud of organizations such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, specifically Team In Training since it is such a big part of my life, and now your lives as well. We will not stop until we find a cure for these terrible cancers, and none of it could be possible without your help. THANK YOU SO MUCH.