February 2014 is where this story begins. It started with a phone call that ended with complete silence. My world had been turned upside down as I heard my mother on the other line telling me she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. I didn't understand how this could happen. She was a daughter, a sister, a tía, a mother, a grandmother, a friend and now a warrior. 

Over the course of 4 years I watched my mother become the strongest person I've ever met. She had the double mastectomy, the chemo, the radiation, brain surgery, rehab. Even with her going through the worst of the worst she still made it her mission to bring awareness to everyone she came in contact with. She would find women who were too scared to get checked or couldn't speak English and bring them in to be screened. She would go around to other chemo patients making jokes when she saw they were scared. Her motto was "Be happy". 

On May 31, 2019 at 2:17 am, I lost my mother to breast cancer. She put up a hell of a fight, something I will never forget. I broke down, I screamed, I cried. I knew my mother would be upset to see me this way. So I decided to continue my mothers work and spread awareness. That's what she would've wanted. Every year I walk to help other women like my mama and support the children that are in my position. This is a family fight and every little bit counts.