When I was diagnosed, “Sex and the City” was the new rage. All over Dallas, groups of women were meeting to have Cosmos and discuss the latest of the fabulous four. My group met for happy hour each Friday, but what we were served was much different than Cosmos. Yet we did consider ourselves the Fabulous Four.
Syl was a 15-year survivor with a recent recurrence and two new grandbabies. Judi, mother of three and recently divorced, had survived four surgeries and could see light at the end of the tunnel. Darlene, who was at the height of her professional career, found out she had breast cancer the week her daughter turned five. I was in my late 20’s, had just started an amazing professional opportunity and was somewhat naive to the fact that cancer can put life at a halt.
Their diagnoses were more serious than mine - Stage Three or Four and chemotherapy. Their battles were lifesaving, mine was preventative measures. They had children and were in later stages of life. I was recently dumped and wondered who in the world would marry me. They were menopausal, and I was in my child-bearing years. They worried about growing their hair back and hormone replacement therapy, and I worried about recurrences and having children.
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After a grim meeting with one of my doctors, I shared with them the reality of my fertility issues at our weekly happy hour. Each made me promise I would fight for my fertility. Syl predicted that she would push her grandbabies and I would push my baby in a future Race for the Cure. We all said cheers and went back to the business of treatment.
I’ve been a survivor for eight years. Over the course of those years, I’ve had the privilege of attending the life celebrations and memorial services for Syl, Judi and Darlene. Each taught me that torment of the flesh means triumph of the spirit.
Today I pushed a stroller in the Lubbock Race for the Cure. I cried because God had blessed me with a wonderful husband and a baby. I cried because every survivor there showed triumph of the spirit. I cried happy tears because I knew there were women there today that would receive a diagnosis in the year to come and I knew because of medical advances they would be given options I had only dreamed about.
And I cried because I felt a gentle breeze and knew that Judi and Darlene were there cheering me on. As I pushed Micah towards the finish line, a gust of wind blew my pink Survivor hat off my head. I knew then that Syl was there saying cheers to you kid and keep on pushing that stroller.
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