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June 15, 2010
By Amy Dilbeck
I turned 30 this year. I celebrated by counseling at a weekend retreat for kids with cancer because there is no better way to remind yourself that 30 isn’t as important than being with kids with cancer. So much about life becomes clear when you are with kids who are fighting for theirs.
Half my life ago, when I was 15, I was one of those kids. I spent a year in the hospital being pumped with chemo, cut open, stuffed with new metal parts and put back together. I am quickly approaching the time where I’ve been a survivor longer than I was a kid without cancer. And, sometimes, though the battle scars are deep and wide, I almost forget the blessing of life we are granted each morning when we wake up.
Turning 30 was a great time to purposefully reflect, to get back in the trenches for a bit and choose to be a part of someone else’s journey when mine feels far away. I think that’s part of what makes St. Baldrick's so special – it’s really an opportunity to get back to the basics, to make a small sacrifice that turns into something much larger – a reminder of the blessings in life.
So, here’s to St. Baldrick's. And, here’s to turning 30. Don’t worry; I’ll be celebrating all year.
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Currently, Amy has just passed the bar and is starting an estate planning practice in Ventura County. Once she gets situated she plans to do some healthcare advocacy and non-profit legal consulting.
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