Strength is a quality I admire. Not physical strength, although looking at a ripped body is nice...inner strength is what I am talking about. Everyone has inner strength, some just take it to a new level of endurance. My mom is one of those people.
My mother has not had an easy life and I know other have had it worse, but she is my hero. She endured such pain, both physically and emotionally, that most people would have cracked. I personally witnessed this strength from her on many occasions. After wards I though how is she doing this and hoped I could do the same if put to the test.
When her mother was sick with colon cancer, she was there for her and the family every step of the way. After my grandmother past, she was there to help my Aunt and Grandfather get along, even though she had my sister and I to take care of.
When my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and the chemo stopped working, she found a hospital in Buffalo, NY that was using alternative treatments. They flew to NY every other week for treatments. After he passed away, almost a year to the day from is diagnosis, she was stronger then ever. My brother was little and my sister and I were a wreck, yet she stood strong and held us together. She stood up to the challenge and did what she needed to do to make sure we had what we needed.
Despite all of this, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was bound and determined to survive. She need to for her children. She worked everyday while getting her radiation, in spite of the discomfort and pain. She is a survivor, it will be 19 years this July. She recently had reconstructive surgery on that breast because of the scars from the multiple surgeries.
The reason I wrote this was a form of shameless self promotion. I will spend my mothers Day this year walking for Breast Cancer research. Not only for my mom, but for my Aunt, my Cousin, my friends Nancy, Marie and Alice. They are all survivors and each one had their own story and struggles. I want to walk so my I and my children do not have to have our own survivor story.
Our team is called the Second Basemen and we are very close to our goal. I know times are tough, but even if you can donate a dollar, that would be greatly appreciated. My personal page is http://rfcphl.convio.net/...
Thank you all so much for listening to my story.
Patti