Hope. It’s a simple word and yet can mean so much to anyone going through a difficult time. It can mean the difference between hanging on and giving up. It can mean a tiny smile in the face of a devastating diagnosis. It’s one word with no true definition — hope can mean anything you want it to.
Hope was the driving force behind the new Roswell Park logo, which led us to ask our social media followers what the word means to them. The responses were powerful and, of course, inspired hope. Check out some of the replies below and view them all on our Facebook page.
Hope is the power to believe that anything is possible — a fresh start, a second chance, or to wish upon a miracle. With hope there is that window of opportunity or new light for reassurance that the possibilities are endless and as long as you believe, anything can happen!Sarah
Hope is believing we're all going to beat this and a cure for all types of cancer will be found. Hope, believe, strength, positive thoughts and prayers are what gets me through each chemo treatment.Linda
This kid is hope! My hero and the strongest boy I know. Never ever giving up. Perseverance and positivity always.Colleen
Hope means keeping a positive attitude, living each day to the fullest and never giving up.Kathy
It's that one thing that keeps you going when your body and mind want to give up. It's that voice in your head that says, "You can do this!" It's that friend who holds your hand and leads you through the darkness. Hope is everything. Hope is life.Alison
Hope is believing in your doctors and yourself to beat cancer. Also, faith, stubbornness, positivity and sense of humor. This comes from a Stage IV oral cancer survivor who had to learn how to talk and eat all over again. I am 5 years cancer free moving up to 6 years in a few months.Chris
Hope is everything! When I was told the percentage of people who were cured from my type of cancer, I put myself in that group and hoped for the best. It kept me positive, focused and pushing myself when I didn't feel like it. Roswell Park gave me hope every step of the way!Margaret
Hope to me is having faith that everything is possible and that every dark cloud has a silver lining and being able to share that hope with others! That giving up or giving in is NOT an option, especially when you have a little driving force that calls you Mommy!!!!!Brenda-Lee
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Sign up!Hope is staying positive in every step of your journey...even when you want to quit!! Hope is believing you will be better. Hope is never, ever giving up!! Hope is knowing you have an amazing support system of family, friends, an entire Roswell team, co-workers and even complete strangers praying for you, caring for you and loving you through every single step of the journey. #roswellstrongChristine K.
As a 25-year Stage 4 non-Hodgkin Cancer, BMT and Kidney Transplant Survivor, I relied on Hope and Strength to get me through each and every day! With all of the setbacks that I experienced, Roswell and their staff gave me that Hope. Now, I give back by writing blogs for Roswell and meeting and sharing my many experiences with newly diagnosed cancer patients. Thank you Roswell!Scott
H is health, you are more healthy than not. Even when you get bad news, remember that.O is opportunity, the chance to become someone you never knew you were, meet someone you would have never met, see things a different way.P is purpose, find your purpose and live every day fulfilling that purpose as tomorrow is not promised to anyone.E is everyone is in this battle, you are not alone. When you see lights in research buildings, fundraisers, banners, runs, bicycle riders remember many others are fighting to find a cure that will help you or someone you love.So focus on staying as Healthy as you can, see the Opportunities this diagnosis has brought, find your Purpose and know you are not alone, you are inspiring others and there are so many praying and fighting for you - there's HOPE!Dr. Renuka Iyer
Hope...it’s nothing without faith. Hope is everything I want for the future. I hope I am forever cured, I hope I will see my now 2 and 5-year-old children graduate high school and get married, I hope I will be able to have a long and successful career, I hope I am able to live a long and happy life. Faith is what will make all these hopes a reality.Callie
Hope means to me...I hope you know on such a journey of cancer you're capable, you're brave, you're significant, you're strong even when it feels like your not. One day and one step at a time. It helped me along the way.Christine L.
As a young mother of four children, and a four-year breast cancer survivor with the BRCA mutation, hope means the promise of the future, appreciation of all of the things I took for granted before cancer, and letting go of the negative things I cannot control. Hope means seeing my children graduate, get married, and having children of their own. Hope means not only keeping myself healthy to reduce risk of recurrence, but also taking charge of my children's health now since they may carry my mutation: knowledge, faith, vitamin D, diet, sleep, exercise, happiness, and love. <3 Hope is Roswell's new direction and comprehensive care center including the survivorship program with integrative therapies that I have been wishing for since I was diagnosed...Shreen
Editor’s Note: Cancer patient outcomes and experiences may vary, even for those with the same type of cancer. An individual patient’s story should not be used as a prediction of how another patient will respond to treatment. Roswell Park is transparent about the survival rates of our patients as compared to national standards, and provides this information, when available, within the cancer type sections of this website.