Truth be told when we were asked to be a part of this month long celebration of the survivors and advances in the battle against breast cancer I knew I had quite a few connections to this disease. Both of my grandmothers had breast cancer as well as my great aunt, Melissas grandmother and a handful of other women I could think of off the top of my head. Its weird then having all of these women Im related to who have fought this disease and still knowing that the first face that popped into my head when I got invited to be a part of this campaign was this one. I think its safe to say Amy had no real idea before I asked her to meet up with me for a few minutes to chat about her fight what her diagnosis had meant to me. Its honestly an almost weird thing to admit because even though weve been friends for years were honestly close simply because we work together a lot. Amy is one of the very best event planners weve ever worked with and weve build a friendship over the years just enjoying being able to trust each other in our work. When she asked me to take her family photos just a few days after her double mastectomy I was floored, humbled, speechless. I know Id be doing her a huge disservice trying to really tell her story but I do know the basics. Amy found out early enough that she was very blessed to be in a good place for treatment. Due simply to advancements in hormone therapy and research by the American Cancer Association Amy was able to find out that she was not a candidate for chemo or radiation. The key was a surgery that would radically alter her confidence as a woman and in her own words the very first time any emotion set in aside from I can beat this was in the pre-op room before her surgery to remove her breasts. Needless to say what I saw, not exactly completely removed, but certainly not in Amys inner circle of friends and family was a radically positive attitude. Amy used her social influence from day one to be a blessing to people who were worried about her. She kept us all up to date, but more than that kept us all grounded in her own battle. She was strong for US when she was in the fight of her life and along with her beautiful family (two incredible kids) and amazing stud of a husband she walked away a year later with the great news that she was Cancer Free. The story isnt the powerful part for me really - though reliving it does still choke me up a bit because I really did live worried for her throughout those scary months. Whats so powerful is not the story I already knew but the story Amy told me sitting in 21C a few weeks ago while I asked her to relive it. The way her friends stepped up to support her, the way her husband gave her strength. The complete strangers who felt like they could be a blessing to her. The little flower in Amys hands was a gift from somebody who didnt bother to leave their name. Its just a simple little silk flower pin. Nothing deep, profound, or expensive - but this little flower must have come just at the right time along with a note that encouraged Amy to be strong and encouraged that people who didnt even need to sign their names were praying for her. In hindsight I guess part of the reason this whole process was so emotional for me was because I while I struggled during this year on how to word even a text message that says we love you or were praying for you without coming across with a pity I know Amy didnt want, complete strangers were stepping out in faith and strength to encourage her. Ive known Amy for a long time. Ive seen her work under remarkably stressful situations, seen her in incredibly happy and not so happy circumstances and yet the very first time Ive ever seen tears well up in this amazing womans eyes was while she was holding this little flower from somebody she still doesnt know. Thank God Amy is on the backside of this and thank God David (Amys husband) and both of her kids were strong enough to support Amy all the way through this last year - BUT this whole story does have a huge point. At some point in the next few weeks, few years, or few hours somebody ALMOST very close to you may get this disease. I know its always our moms, sisters, and wives that we REALLY worry about but its the Amys of our lives we forget about. The amazing women that work next to us, smile when they see us, and have entire lives of their own that get hit by this thing. The woman that works down the hall, or parks next to you. The sweet lady at the coffee shop, or at the gym. The friend of a friend, business partner, or mom of your childs daycare buddy. These women are waking up battling a disease that were only barely beginning to really control. You might hear often that were so close to a cure but the truth is with breast cancer its true. Research that the American Cancer Society has done has made such advances in treatment that women diagnosed in the early stages of breast cancer are almost promised to make a full recovery - BUT to continue this research, to pay for these treatments, and to support these women dollars matter. If this is the time you check out - shame on you. If youve read this whole story about my sweet friend Amy, and then when you find out that what you can do to help is to donate and you check out I am truly sorry for wasting your time. BUT if you understand that these amazing women, the Amys of our lives can benefit from a few dollars and you want to be a part of that we want to personally thank you! If youd like to donate in Amys honor to our campaign against breast cancer please head here cbi.as/mzbd7. THANK YOU for reading this and if I can encourage you at all to support the women around you fighting Id remind you of this little flower. EVERY little gesture may mean more than you understand. THANK YOU AMY for being willing to be so vulnerable with me.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 02:19:45 +0000
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