true warrior a tribute to Dawn Reese

True Warrior Dawn Reese


' True Warrior' - Tribute to Dawn Reese -07/09/1958 -08/21/2006

How amazing life has been these last few months; I have experienced complete utter dismay. I have been looking in through a window as flashes of time seem to fast forward and rewind. In the earliest part of 2006 I came to the realization that my little sister was nearing the end of a very long battle. I no longer could hide behind the conviction that because she was young,healthy ( and stubborn), no affliction could overcome her. After all I remember thinking, no one need to die of Breast Cancer any longer - not when you catch it early enough. Apparently such a statement may be possible to make in the near future for most women. There have been so many break throughs with Tykerb and Herceptin that breast cancer may soon be a thing of the past. Unfortunately it has come to late for my sister Dawn, she looks at me and says "why not me Cheryl - No one deserves this! ", She worked all of her life, her career as a Diary Manager ended recently when her lungs, after being drained, had to remain with a bag attached outwardly to siphon off the fluids. Until then she had radiation every day, when she became to weak to drive herself our youngest Sister Missy or Dawns husband Tom would drive her and chemo on Thursdays then back to work - with Sunday off, while working a 50 hour week.

The advancement of the cancer led to 'Invasive Ductile Carcinoma', then brain tumors and Metastasized into the skull bone. Still her main concern now as always lay in her concern for others.

I remember as a child looking for my hero's, never did I think this young woman 4 years my junior would become my heroine. I watched her frail body as she pulled herself up and onto the pink lounge chair, the staff greeting her as Dawn laughingly requested her cocktail as she referred to the chemical poisons mixed to kill both the good and bad cells in her body. hour after hour , week after week. Dawns goal always to cheer up those around her. I accompanied her on one of these last visits to her radiation treatment in Fort Meyers. Which left me feeling insignificant. I walked in by Dawns side as she was rolled back in her wheel chair towards a most impressive cylinder designed to have the body immobilized as lasers of radiation are beamed through the skull directed at the center and left tumors. The technician retrieves a mask especially molded just for Dawn and marked with precision to aligned the beams of radiation. Buying time shrinking the tumors while medications increase. The 5'2 once dark haired lady with fawn colored eyes, she gazed childlike back at me, "It's okay sis". The terror of watching as your little sister stands alone and fights this monster - words can not describe.

I am as then, still so angry! There is nothing to swing at, no one to get even with! Just this sickening feeling in the pit of your stomach. We all stopped into Apple Bee's Restaurant afterwards and amazed as she ate almost all of her dinner. It doesn't hurt really sis ...Dawns voice faded as she picked up her drink - I swallowed some texturized substance and pretended to have normal conversation. The rage overwhelming at the thoughts of what was happening inside her fraile body. So my retaliation is to spread the information on early detection/self examinations/awareness of Breast Cancer and the newest smart drugs available to combat the cancer cells. My fiancee' Michael (last year that ended in Spring of 2008.)

Mackinnon/djemboy2 - recently wrote a song in titled "True Warrior" a Tribute to Dawn Reese, He did so to honor Dawn who has no children and all those who have or are still fighting this monster called Cancer. WIRN on line is playing it again this Sunday. I want to say I loved being a part of Dawns life. I appreciate the opportunity to write on the rare occasion. Thank you to my family and friends to Dawns friends Sharon, Bob, Jessica, Most of all to her beloved husband Tom for staying by her side til the very end, their selfless dedication to Dawns welfare : physically, mentally and emotionally. To the ladies of Hospice and the thousands of readers and listeners online who offerred prayers and positive words. The town of Clewiston and all those who continue to fight Dawns battle against cancer. Thank you to my fiancee' Michael who has shown me relentlessly unconditional love and support... to my children who without real understanding fortified my foundation as a person - when I thought all would crumble. I acknowledge the achievments of all those in the medical field as arcaic as it is in this modern day. In this billion dollar industry called cancer.

Thank you for those who read and indulge me.

Author notes
Picture is my little sister Dawn on the left and myself on the right - my property.

Taken from my personal note book for this contest.
I wrote the letter ( Thoughts) it was for no one and for everyone...
This letter is over two years old now, I wrote it during the hardest time of my life. You may not want it in your contest - but it is honest.
djemboy2@betarecords.com

follow link to hear True Warrior and read the Lyrics

We have information about all types of

breast cancer and their treatments at the following link on our website:

Detailed Guide: Breast Cancer

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_3x.asp?dt=5

Tribute to Dawn Reese ' True Warrior"

story published and song written :