Today is my 54th birthday and I am lucky. I have spent the last 9 days trying not to move too fast or use my arms to push, pull, or lift and to SMILE. If you haven’t heard, ten days ago I had Breast Cancer.
Eric and I spent April and May consulting everyone and everything that could give us information about what we were facing. I also spent April and May on a dream cruise in the Mediterranean, running as far as I could, lifting weights, cleaning my house (If you know me well, you know this is therapy!) and gardening like I had limited time. I did. Have limited time, that is. And yet, I am so lucky!!
On June 18 I had a double mastectomy and I’ve spent the past 9 days trying to be ‘quiet’ and heal. I AM SO LUCKY! I have an amazing family, friends and support system. I have access to great health care and insurance makes my medical costs manageable. I am not going to lose my job because I can’t be there for the next month (boy, has Eric picked up my slack!). And, finally, I am so LUCKY because my Breast Cancer was caught early and is very treatable. I’ve read about a lot of people who are not as lucky as I am.
In May I was angry. I am lucky but this is BULLSHIT! I had to tell Hailey and Taylor that not only do I have Breast Cancer but our family has a genetic mutation, CHEK2, that essentially keeps my cells from fighting certain cancers full on. Not so lucky. They each have a 50% chance of also being CHEK2 positive. Their response? After a beat to internalize what they were being told, “We’ll deal with that later, what can we do for you, Mom?” I won the lottery when it comes to daughters! And yet, this is STILL BULLSHIT!
So in May I turned my anger into action and I joined the ONE Komen community and registered for the Susan G. Komen RACE FOR THE CURE. I am dedicated to Komen's ONE mission of ending breast cancer forever, and I need your help. I intend to run the Race in Detroit on September 14. If I’m not strong enough to run, I will walk it. It is that important to me to work towards a world without breast cancer for our daughters, granddaughters, moms, sisters (mine was dealing with her own concerns while she constantly checked in on me), cousins, friends, sons, husbands (yes, men can get Breast Cancer) and anyone else who hears the words, “You have Breast Cancer”. Setting this goal has gotten me through the difficult days before my surgery and is teaching me patience as I heal enough to get back to running.
Like I said, I need your help. The only thing I want for my birthday this year is to help support breakthrough research and provide assistance to those facing breast cancer and need support. Please consider registering to walk/run with my team (team name is ‘Endthisbullshit’) and/ or making a tax-deductible donation to the Race for the Cure. (To join my team for September 14 go to the Race for the Cure Detroit website and register to walk. Choose “Endthisbullshit” as your team. If you have a problem let me know, I’m still earning how to navigate the site)
To be fully transparent, the week before my mastectomy I also found out I have a second cancer of the thyroid. I’m still LUCKY it’s treatable but how is that for some BULLSHIT?! That put a bit of a pothole on the road to reaching my goal because that surgery will be scheduled for late summer. So… in the case that I’m not medically clear to run/walk on 9/14 I will make a plan to Race with my team on a later date. Just know that if you join my team and/or donate, I am good for the miles!
Let’s End this Bullshit once and for all, please join me!
Team Captain
