Photo Credit: to Mike Garland
During the 2016 Cordova International Raceway Banquet, Car Chix was given the highest honor, the President’s Award. Car Chix and the team at Cordova International Raceway have worked together for 5 consecutive years to bring you one of our largest events, the Drag Racing for Life Breast Cancer Fundraiser (formerly known as Racing for a Cure a Quarter Mile at a Time) held during the World Series of Drag Racing. This event has raised 1,000’s of dollars for the Genesis Silvis Center for Breast Health and has changed the lives of many over the years.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Jeanette Des Jardins, President of Car Chix, was unable to attend the event. However, Car Chick and 2015 Woman of Motorsports Winner, Stephanie Keil accepted the award on the behalf of Car Chix and delivered a very touching, heart-felt and inspirational speech that we would like to share with you…
Hello, my name is Stephanie and I am your 2016 Car Chix calendar winner. Over 240 people entered this contest and our track got to take home first. Thank you for allowing me to represent you and especially our female racers.
I’m going to be 100% honest with all of you right off the bat. I didn’t exactly “plan” on entering the calendar contest. It was more of a random conversation, at the right time, with the right person.
This all started because of one single patient of mine. When I tell people that I am an oncology nurse, the response I get almost every time is “Oh, that must be so hard.” So, let me give you an example of why it is one of the greatest jobs on earth.
I admitted Jim to our unit. Early 50’s, overall good health. A local pipe fitter in our community. His biggest complaint was leg numbness that has became more recent, making it difficult to walk at times. His chiropractor could no longer keep up, and suggested further evaluation.
All scans and tests concluded there was a tumor twisted around his spinal cord. The more it grew the harder it squeezed. The tumor was inoperable and the very best option for him would be chemotherapy starting immediately. There was one more problem. A smaller tumor was noticed farther up on the spinal cord; not causing symptoms (just yet) but the location would soon prove otherwise. It was wrapped around the nerves that control his drive to breath. Due to a race against time, his changes of survival were very slim.
After the doctor left, Jim lowered his head and cried. I sat on the bed next to him, took his hand and asked “Jim, what do you want to do?” He looked at me with a tremendous amount of hurt in his eyes and replied, “How do I know its not too late?” My answer was direct and to the point. “Jim, there is one outcome if you decide against treatment… this tumor will kill you. If you decide to go with treatment you have three possible outcomes. The tumor will kill you. The chemo will kill you. Or you will survive. I cant tell you which one will happen, but how will you ever know if you don’t try?”
I ordered his chemotherapy that night.
There would be a lot of days where it was just Jim and I during his treatment. I asked Jim about his family. Due to life situations he only had his wife. He was an only child and both his parents have since passed. His wife, also an only child, was unable to have children herself. She would be gone a lot throughout his stay, due to working long hours to keep their business above water.
Jim started asking about my family, my hobbies… basically anything to keep his mind off his diagnosis. I told him about drag racing and how much I loved cars and engines. He asked about other women drivers, and he could NOT get over the fact that no, I was not the only one. I told him about Car Chix and how they support women like myself and about the calendar contest jokingly stating that I was entering this year. He told me to really consider it. “Jim, no way. I’m still in my rookie years of being a drag racer. This contest is far beyond my reach, and even if I did there’s no way Id even come close to making the top 12 that’s for sure.” He reached over, took my hand and said “Stephanie, how will you ever know if you don’t try?”
It’s funny how karma has its ways. I promised right then and there that I would do it; he even made me shake on it. Jim passed away six days later.
I know this story seems sad but allow me to let you in on a few things. This job creates life lessons every single day. I miss Jim, I miss him a lot. But I will never forget what he taught me.
A nurse is one who opens the eyes of a newborn and gently closes the eyes of a dying man. It is indeed a huge blessing to be the first and last to witness the beginning and end of life.
The things I’ve learned throughout or short but close friendship is this.
-A promise is always a promise
-You always has the right to choose
-Express your goals and you will always find help
and
-You never know, unless you try.
Stephanie Keil
Car Chix is deeply honored to receive the President’s Award from Cordova International Raceway. This award symbolizes years and years of hard work by the Car Chix, our team members, the individuals that have volunteered for our events, the businesses that stepped up and backed us and supported us along the way. It symbolizes years of efforts to make a difference in the motorsports community,building a channel to highlight and recognize women in motorsports and giving back to the community.
We feel truly blessed to have come this far and will continue to strive to make a difference. Thank you to everyone for all of your support and dedication of the years! We could not have done this without you!
