October 22nd, 2013 my world changed forever. Breast cancer never entered my mind as something I would ever have to face as there really was no one in my immediate family that had ever been through it. And here it was...staring me in the face. When I had my biopsy on the 18th the Doctor said it appeared to be DCIS which I was prepared for. What I wasn't prepared for was the call on the 22nd that informed me it was both DCIS and IDC. Now the fight was on. All my tests at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN were very positive, it appeared there wasn't any lymph node involvement, but when it came time for the actual surgery, we found there were 12/30 involved. Now the fight was REALLY on!
I'm a single parent of two amazing kids. I was surround by the most incredible support system of family and friends. They held me up when all I wanted to do was pull the covers over my head and cry. They nourished my body and soul. They made me laugh. They made me smile...but more than anything in the world, they made me realize how beautiful and precious life is and that I would do anything in my power to be there for them.
Chemo and radiation were tough, but I managed to still work through it all. Having an employer who supported me in so many ways was just one of the other blessings that I had.
I lost a lot of things this past year....my health, my hair, my breast, my belief that this would never happen to me....but what I gained was so much more. I appreciate the simple things now, the beauty of just waking up each day, the sound of laughter, love, good friends, family and faith. I am cancer free today, and that is a blessing. My group of beautiful breast cancer surviving ladies has a saying we all go by and that is "I choose to not worry about tomorrow because it robs me of being present and enjoying today".
Minot, ND
