I have had such a range of emotions this month as I celebrate life. I have been so focused on our fundraiser while women around me have been diagnosed with breast cancer, had a recurrence or even lost their battle. It's difficult when you are in the throws of cancer (any kind of cancer) and the world around you keeps going about their busy life. For me, I can remember just wanting someone, anyone to experience the loss I was going through. I was angry and couldn't understand 'why me?' Now I know that plenty of people experience those exact feelings every day. There is a young gal named Tracey that I met over email. We have the same wonderful oncologist, Dr. Rivera and have shared experiences and suggestions regarding treatment. Tracy has a young son who is 7 years old. I just received an email that Tracey died on Thursday. She was in the midst of chemo, caught a virus which led to pneumonia and her body couldn't fight it off. This is heartbreaking as I think about her husband, her parents and mostly her young son. I immediately caught myself thinking about my own funeral and all the what-ifs. I know God has a plan for all of us and I pray all the time that my plan is to live a long life.
There are many young ladies being diagnosed with cancer everyday. Last week, I met in person another gal I had met over email who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 29 (she is now over a year out of treament-woo hoo!) And, at the painting class I volunteer at on Wednesdays, I met another young girl who was diagnosed at age 26! What is wrong, I thought I was young at 35, but these ladies are significantly younger than me.
I hope you can see why Anticancer Amy is so important to me. I will soon start to add pages to my sidebars so that I can share books, links, studies, etc. with you.
In the meantime, if you weren't able to attend Waltz Warriors Go Green, please consider a donation to The Giving Tree. I will leave the link active for another week with a goal to raise another day of mammograms. In the comment section, write Waltz Warriors. I don't have exact figures yet, but I know we have raised atleast 2 days of mammograms thus far, that's over $5,000!
https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/PinkRibbonsProject/OnlineDonation.html
This is a photo of me and my sisters with our husbands at Waltz Warriors Go Green!
Amy,
ReplyDeleteIt was a great event and I'm so happy you raised so much money for mammograms!
I'm really sorry to hear about your friend Tracey. I think the information you are going to share on this blog, about prevention and healthy lifestyle, is so important in light of all of the young women and families who are effected by cancer. It is startling and tragic how many women and how young, that are being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Your blog is not only important to you but it is going to be very important to others and will touch countless lives in the future I'm certain. You have acquired so much knowledge - both science-based and faith-based - and your desire to share it is truly an example of God helping others through one of his precious children,
Kudos to you for all of your work and the changes you have made and may God continue to bless you with good health,
Love Tara