In Remembrance of Me, Don’t Stop Believin’

In Remembrance of Me, Don’t Stop Believin’

Jackie

My sister Tracy’s journey began on June 12, 1991. She was seven months pregnant and learned that there was a tumor the size of an egg in her brain. On that day, no one could have predicted the direction that her life would take and all the people that would be inspired by her.

Tracy adopted a Don’t Stop Believin’ attitude that day that carried her through the rest of her life. When Tracy was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma, she was told that out of only fifteen documented cases, they could not find anyone that survived. Over the course of Tracy’s disease, she maintained an unwavering faith and belief that she would beat her cancer. Keeping her humor, she nicknamed herself “Superwoman T‐Si” because she said she needed to be strong for her family and friends as she took on her disease. To help keep Superwoman T-Si always in the forefront of Tracy’s mind, instead of her disease, I suggested that she create a name for her cancer, like a Superhero’s nemesis. Tracy picked “Crazy Blonde Diva.” A comic book was developed that told the story of how Superwoman T-Si, along with her SuperFriends, handled the return of Crazy Blonde Diva with faith and fun.

Tracy’s SuperFriends put together a benefit to honor her and her Don’t Stop Believin’ attitude, as well as raise money to assist in alleviating Tracy’s financial burdens. At this incredible benefit, all the SuperFriends wore their SuperFriend capes and held T-Si up in the air so she could fly, while her song, “Don’t Stop Believin'”, played. Over her twenty one year journey, Tracy came to realize that, while we cannot always pay it back to those that do so much for us, we can pay it forward. This is the major inspiration behind the creation of HelpYourHero.org to honor Tracy’s legacy. On May 24, 2012, her mother’s birthday, Superwoman T-Si, our brave hero Tracy, made the choice to start a new journey in heaven. As much as she is missed by countless people- many of whom never met her in person, we know that she will continue her Don’t Stop Believin’ anthem in heaven. And she asks us, “In Remembrance of Me, Don’t Stop Believin’.”

Opinions expressed within this story belong solely to the author and do not reflect the views or opinions of the National Brain Tumor Society.