Twenty-one years ago today, I lost my left breast to cancer and was given a Stage II prognosis. My greatest fear was to leave my husband alone to raise our three daughters, then age 7, 4 and 4. I carried a heavy heart knowing that there was a possibility that they could grow up not fully remembering me...and how very much I loved them.
Jessica introduced the word "Cancerversary" to our vocabulary after her own diagnosis and subsequent one-year mark, and last year on my 20th Cancerversary, she and Stefanie surprised me with a family dinner celebration. Her blog from that day still brings tears to my eyes as I continue to appreciate the hero that she was. She called me brave from the battles I waged when all the while she was the true warrior. Her fight was so much tougher than mine and with more twists and turns than any of us could ever have imagined, yet she smiled, inspired and tried her hardest to become a survivor herself. Yes. I did survive my battle. But the scars I bear come from the fight that I had hoped to help her win.
Jessica closed her entry with the following quote which I feel needs repeating, especially today:
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience by which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I've lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along." -Eleanor Roosevelt
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
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1 comment:
Chris,I remember your twenty year cancerversary celebration last year and how happy your girls were to help celebrate this date. We all hoped and prayed that we would be celebrating that with Jessica also. I know she is smiling as she looks to you on this special day. Love ya...
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