In April of this year, we lost my beautiful mother to breast cancer. She was first diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in January of 2021. After 2 surgeries, 5.5 months of chemo, and 6 weeks of radiation, we thought the bulk of her treatment was over. That year, she faced cancer head-on and managed to always have a smile on her face. She was strong, resilient, and courageous. For the next two years, we celebrated my mother’s health. That is, until in December of 2023, about a week before her 50th birthday, we discovered her cancer had progressed into Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. From that day on, our lives have never been the same. We watched on as she tirelessly battled intense pain, horrible medication side effects, and numerous medical complications. On April 27th, only 4.5 months after her diagnosis, my mother passed away due to this awful disease.
My mom was taken from our lives far too soon. She was a selfless mother, a devoted wife, a kind-hearted daughter, a supportive sister, a caring aunt, a thoughtful friend, and above all, she was an exceptional person. She loved truly unconditionally, which so many loved ones could attest to. My mom was such a remarkable person to be so warmly regarded by so many people. Her authentically generous and kind nature helped so many people over the years, and her absence has left a large hole in many hearts. She is missed and loved dearly by her family and friends.
Life without my mother has been a cruel challenge like no other. I lost my best friend, my favorite person in the entire world. This pain I feel, that my family feels, is something no one should. It breaks my heart to think of other families losing their loved ones to this disease. Daughters and sons losing their mothers, husbands losing their wives, and parents losing their daughters.
1 in 8 women develop breast cancer at some point in their lives in the US. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. In my mom’s honor, we will be participating in the “Race for the Cure” in Detroit on September 14th as the team “Melissa’s Musketeers”. There is already a group of more than 40 team members who have raised more than $800. If you would like to join us, there is still time. Each participant in the race will receive a free Melissa’s Musketeers t-shirt for race day! Others who wish to purchase the shirt but not participate can do so for $10. Please message me if you are interested in joining or would like to purchase a t-shirt.