First Person | October marks Breast Cancer Awareness month. I have done what I could by spreading awareness for the last few years and trying to support those who have been afflicted by this life-changing and sometimes life-ending disease. But this year, it forced its way into my family.
Cancer has taken many family members in my lifetime and before I was born. I have watched those I loved become ill and unrecognizable. I have stood by in tears, heartbroken, witnessing a vibrant person turn into a figment of their former self. I have always known that death is inevitable and you never can predict the moment when one’s time will come. What I didn’t expect, though, was to lose my younger sister so early in life, losing her to breast cancer within days of her diagnosis.
When someone gets ill; you worry and you pray. It never once crosses your mind that it could be the last time you will ever speak to them again. I cried my eyes out after hearing my sister tell me she had Stage 4 breast cancer, but I have known so many women who have had a chance to battle it that I was unaware that the conversation I was having with her would be the last one.
Usually, when something as devastating as a life threatening disease affects someone you love, you expect that the road will be long and hard but, that they will fight it with all of their being and in the end triumph. This was not the case for my sister. This way of thinking had done nothing more than break my faith and my heart as I was informed of my sister’s untimely death.
How does one heal after such a life altering event? After I cried until I could no longer cry; I buried myself in my dream of becoming a writer. I became an advocate for breast cancer awareness and started spreading the message that the unthinkable can and will happen to someone you love. I can attest to that fact.
With every word I have written since February 8, 2011, I hold the memory of my sister within me and pray that a cure is found. I cannot bring my sister back, Breast cancer has won that battle. But, I am determined to stand alongside of millions of people and fight the war against this heinous disease. Will you stand with us?
There is a breast cancer awareness challenge on Facebook that you can join. Writers and bloggers like me are using our blogs and social networks to spread awareness and to unite the masses in the war against breast cancer. We would love to see you join in and take part because breast cancer doesn’t just affect one person; it affects everyone.