For my hero...

Photos by Allison Hoffman

In December of 2011 my best friend, Eileen Murphy, was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  We were all shocked.  She had a huge tumor that was in her chest pushing on her heart along with a couple others.  My life turned upside down.  I didn't know what to do and had no control over any of it.  Eileen had to go through 9 long months of chemo and then 6 weeks of radiation.  My nervous where a mess.  I had lost all control of every emotion.  This was my best friend since I was 4 year old.  We has a 25+ year friendship.  We were next door neighbors and even went to the same college.  I was devastated.  But Eileen keep going through it all.  She kept living her life as if cancer was not really there.  She kept a "normal" lifestyle as much as she could.  While I was all kinds of emotions for her.  I was scared.  I didn't want to lose her, I didn't want my kids to lose their aunt.  I have no siblings and Eileen is more than a sister to me.  I would face book her every Friday with inspirational songs, Bible versus, quotes, and even wishing her a Happy Chemo Day.  She must of thought I was crazy.  But we both got to the other side of it.  She is now very happy to be in remission and I believe that our faith in Christ is how we both made it.  They say you have to keep positive when you go through cancer and it's so true.  So I have dedicated this cake to her.  I also donated this for a Relay for Life fundraiser to honor her and other survivors of all cancers.  I love you Eileen with all my heart.  I don't know if I could make it in this crazy world without you, sis.