Oscar Speech

​"First and foremost, I would like to thank God." I know, I know, it seems as though every thank you speech from the Oscars to the Billboard Music Awards, start with that line. Well, same goes for a bone marrow transplant patient who just won the gift of life, who through God, has hope and those around her share that same hope in her survival and cure.

I want to dedicate this post, and say, " THANK YOU." I am blessed with, literally, hundreds of people in my life from family to old and new friends, to coworkers and church family, who have gone above and beyond the call of duty for me. Anyone that knows me knows that I believe I can do it all...myself. I like to think I have some crazy, super power that allows me to continue to fill up my bucket with things to do no matter how much time and effort it takes, and successfully get the job done. Like I say losing is NOT an option.

Well, cancer has become my kryptonite. I realized very quickly that I can't do it alone and, so as hard as it was, I asked for a little help. I soon found out that my enormous network of family and friends share my motto, "GO BIG or GO HOME!!!" And they all went HUGE! I am talking, off the Richter scale, out of control, over the top, coming to my side in my time of need HUGE. They have helped to carry the heavy crosses that have broken me down in ways I could never even begin to describe, physically, emotional, spiritually and mentally.

First and foremost, my family makes me believe that there is a reason why I have survived years passed the point when the doctors thought I would die. They are also the ones who feel the deepest pain and agony because they have walked with me through this long journey from day one. Every day when I wake up I think of cancer. I think of my fears, my desperate hope to live and guess what? They do too. I know deep down inside of my heart, my dad would take this cancer that is killing me, trade places with me without ANY hesitation. He is my protector and has been for almost 34 years. NOTHING has changed about that. My mom, my sister and my son are my biggest cheerleaders and love me more than anything. They are ready, all of them playing a different role in this battle, to help see my way to a cure. It's like we are playing in the Super Bowl of life and each one of us are on Team Tara. We have different positions due to our strengths, but can't win without any one player.

THANK YOU to ALL of my friends. I never thought one person could have so many friends. Many of them I know through work and networking. My job is to meet strangers EVERY day and I love it. I have a passion for meeting people and building relationships with hundreds and possibly thousands of people in the years that I have been in ad sales. I have friends from my school days, college and into my adult life, church; the list goes on and on. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to each and every one of you. I have literally received countless cards, monetary donations, checks and cash, all for the medical bills that will be piling up. There have been so many emails, texts letters, post-it notes, and so much more. I want all of you to know that I've received each dollar and every check; I have read every card and saw each name on all of the personal checks that I have deposited into the Tara Revyn Bone Marrow Fund. Nothing has gone unnoticed and everything has been appreciated so much. THANK YOU.

Thank you to Nico and Fishbones in St. Clair Shores, Mike Davis, Paul Shamo and the Bumpers Crew, The 2 Ali's at Ollie's Cuisine and my sister Dawn Revyn; you all threw parties that I will never forget and replay in my head through the difficult days coming up at Karmanos. Comcast Spotlight family, I never thought my name would be on the Tiger's Scoreboard. WOW. I love sports and that was by far the sweetest scoreboard I've ever seen. Thank you for all of the donations from all of the employees, the well wishes lunch, the iPad and the Revving it up for Revyn bracelets. I love them. My management, Lynn, Steve, Teresa, Roland and EVERYONE; I am so grateful to have you all in my life. I love what I do, I love my job and I cannot express the peace of mind that I now have to know that my work is appreciated. I love what I do and I am passionate about my clients. Your support to me is monumental. Thank you to R.J. King, Nick Martines, staff at DBuisness and HOUR magazine, and Greg at Allied Printing Company for the awesome business cards you created for me, The Marrow Movement, Tara Revyn, Founder and Blogger. I can't wait to pass them out to my visitors when they come see me. Jodi and Mike thank you for the cool Tiger's colors Team Tara bands and heading up what has turned out to be quite the sales project! Orders are coming in from out of state!!!!!! Team Tara is growing by the seconds and I am so HAPPY! Shannon, you were the FIRST to honor Team Tara with creating my very own custom shirt! I love you, Shamrock! Gary and Lisa Anitrini, you two really outdid yourselves by raising so much money at your offices. I was floored when I opened the cards and envelopes. There are truly so many people, Gina, Jodi, family members and more who not only donated at my parties, but also took it upon themselves to raise money in their own offices. I am so lucky and blessed to have your support.

Please, and I mean this in the VERY MOST SINCERE WAY, I have seen every single donation, text, email, letter, card and the hundreds of Facebook posts and messages, and I am honored and humbled to know each and every one of you. Some were complete strangers. You are now on Team Tara! I can't do this alone and I have proof that God is watching out for me because he has sent hundreds of angels to see me through. I feel the intense love around me, whether you are near or far, and it is the best prescription to survive this fight.
This is what, "Love Living Life" means. Faith, Hope, Love, but the greatest of the three is LOVE and I am taking it ALL with me to Karmanos.
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With all of my love and appreciation,
Tara