YOUR STORIES
Read more stories » | Share your story »
AMBER VANLOO
2 year participant of the Lung Run
Connection to Lung Cancer:
Lost her friend Tara Pullara to lung cancer in May 2009
This walk is a very small thing we can do in honor of Tara and try to give back to her. Last September all of us including Tara did this walk together, this year we will be walking in memory and honor of Tara!”
Amber VanLoo...In Her Own Words…
Team Tara is walking in memory and honor of our best friend Tara Pullara. Tara was diagnosed in Oct 2007 with cervical cancer, in Jan 2008 after chemo and radiation Tara was cleared of cervical cancer, but found out that it had spread to her lungs. Tara went through many rounds of chemo and radiation to only find out that the tumors continued to grow and spread. Although Tara continued to get bad news from the doctors she said she knew her God was there to look after her and take care of her. Tara was so strong in her Faith and knew that he had a plan for her life. Tara was not only a Women of Christ, but a wonderful wife, a best friend, a sister, a fun aunt, and most of all the strongest person I have ever met. As she was fighting for her life she seemed to be the one to always hold all of us up.
Tara and Jason (her husband) would ask for prayers to beat this cancer, but in the same breath they would pray for you. In Dec 2008 Tara was continuing treatment, but it was starting to take a toll on her body. She had lost much of her strength, but was still determined to keep going. Her and I starting walking laps to build her strength. I was amazed that her entire right lung was non functional and she was walking an hour with me at a good pace while having great conversation. That was the thing with Tara, yes she had cancer but cancer did not have her. She did not want to be that number or the typical "cancer" patient. I am not sure if this was her strong faith or maybe a little bit of her stubbornness coming out :) Either way it worked and made everyone around her look up to her.
May 1st, 2009 my best friend Tara at the age of 30 lost her battle to cancer. I have to say she was strong up until the last breath. Tara has left her mark on more people than I can mention, her smile, laugh, hugs, her no holding back on telling you what you needed to here, the shake of her head when she thought "what the heck", her love, her strength, and most of all her Faith! Tara will never be forgotten. This walk is a very small thing we can do in honor of Tara and try to give back to her. Last September all of us including Tara did this walk together, this year we will be walking in memory and honor of Tara!
Love you, Miss you, and Thank you Tara more then you will ever know.... Team Tara! Amber, Maren, and Bethany! Along with a few others.