When I asked Jerry to take his picture for this post, he said, “Come on, Ryan. I’m crying.” I told him not to worry about it because in an hour or so, we are all going to be crying (can’t even see the tears in the picture, Jerry).

Jerry, having you blog for Onward State has been an honor, and your words have reminded why I am here when frustration had taken its’ hold of me. We have been friends since freshman year, and I know we will remain friends for every year after. You led PSMA through an extremely successful THON season, and you were meant to rock the 46. And, just so you know, I may or may not have let out a few mansobs as I read through this post in the media room.

“Well, it’s here…the Final 4 hours…

…well, almost. But I’m already crying enough to make someone think otherwise. It’s certainly been an interesting journey, full of both struggles and surprises, both good and bad (yes, a good struggle. It makes sense). I’ve learned just how much my body can handle, and then some. I’ve learned the outstanding support you can receive (there I start crying again…) from friends and others who care. I’ve learned of the limitless impact human desire can have, when it’s used for the right reasons. Finding a cure for cancer may seem like an impossible task, but THON is really (crying again; wonderful) proving that impossible is anything but that. From the ways how lives are changed, such as the nephew of a Four Diamonds Family Member who was saved because of an experimental procedure that the family’s insurance wouldn’t cover, to how it changes our own lives…THON is not just trying to find a cure for cancer. THON is doing the impossible.

I’ve learned so many things about myself, including how emotionally unstable I am after 40+ hours awake. I think I can finally understand just what it means to say “We dance for those who can’t.”

When I was asked to write down why I THON, I came up with a semi-inspired thought from a dream – “THON is that one chance in your life to be a superhero, even if it’s just for 46 hours.”  Now, after being on that journey for myself…well I can say it speaks the truth.

-Jerry (still crying)”