I Lived Without Hope

For fifteen years, I lived without hope.  Losing my mother to her horrific battle with breast cancer left me stigmatized, damaged.  I felt that cancer was a bigger monster than any of us and that it was hopeless. I resigned myself to the fact that one day, I would die of cancer, too, and that when I received my diagnosis, I would take no action other than to live the time I had left to the fullest.  Chemo was a cruel bitch who messed with my head and made us all think our mom might be okay, and I didn't want to put my loved ones through the same thing!  Hospitals and needles, and what I thought to be false hope--no thanks.

Then, last year I walked.  I spent months raising money and then I walked.  The Susan G. Komen 3-day for a Cure replaced my sense of impending doom for myself and everyone else with a very real, very great sense of hope.  I learned of the advancements made in cancer treatments.  I met, and I embraced many women who fought, and who won.  I was made aware of the massive amounts of money that walkers like me were funneling into breast cancer research.  I realized that cancer no longer has to be a death sentence.

But it was for my mother.  And it was for so many others.  A substantial amount of time was dedicated during our walk to those who have been taken.  Tears flowed freely down my face and the faces of countless others in memory of these individuals, these mothers, these daughters, these sisters, cousins, aunts grandmothers, and friends.

And for these reasons, I am walking again.  I am walking again because now I can see that if we don't give up, we will find a cure.  And maybe I will not live in fear and doubt anymore at all.  Perhaps I will not worry for my daughters who seem to be genetically predisposed to breast cancer.

Last year, the majority of donations toward my goal of $2,900.00 came from people I have never personally met.  I was floored by the generosity that came from people like you, bloggers who share in my determination to put an end to this once and for all.

So, yes, I am asking again.  Could you find it in your heart to donate even just a few dollars?  Every little tax-deductible bit counts.  I know money is tight, for nearly everyone.  But I still ask because this is so very important.  To all of us.

Please click here to donate.

Thank you.