To the Career Mom Fighting Breast Cancer

To the mom fighting breast cancer, managing a career, and raising their family, I see you. I see you because I was a child raised by a mom just like you. I was the child old enough to know something was wrong but young enough not to understand that your fight to keep things the same in our home was not just for me but also for you. That as a mom, the strength within to share that you had breast cancer was pulled from your entire being. While you stared into my eyes, saying, "I will be okay. Cancer will not triumph. As your mom, I will do everything to ensure I'm okay." Reassuring me, "I'm your mom, and I will always be right by your side."

Looking back into my world during this time in our lives feels like a blur. What I do know is that love was constant. When it was tough, love was right next to us, supporting us through this. One of my classmate's moms had breast cancer at the same time as my mom; she passed away during her fight. I remember my mom trying to help me through my feelings of not knowing if that would happen to her. I remember coming home from school one day and overhearing her on the phone with my grandmother, saying the cancer is not gone after the second surgery. These were challenging moments, but I never felt alone, and somehow she was there supporting my emotions. She was brave, strong, and had enormous willpower to keep going. I want to go back to that mom and truly recognize what she did. I would take her to her favorite movie, watch her play music in a café (she also is a musician), and tell her how incredibly amazing she is and how proud I am to be her daughter.

As a mom, now, I'm overwhelmed by the power within us. My mother had breast cancer while I was in elementary school. She was in her 30's, divorced, and working full time. I clearly remember watching my mother navigate and advocate for her health while battling cancer. Hospitals became my archenemy. I have this vivid memory of her being sure after her 4th surgery that they had gotten all of the cancer, only to find out it was still there. She pushed her way into the best hospital on the East Coast to get a second opinion. On that visit, we finally received the news that she was in remission. At the time, I couldn't believe it. I didn't know if we would ever hear those words, but there they were being said, and while remission didn't mean it couldn't come back, we got good news for the first time. I know that not all stories end like this, but the truth is the journey, the fight, the love, and the person will always be there in our lives.

To the mom fighting right now, your love will always triumph. Your love is what your child is going to remember the most during this time. That is more powerful than I could even realize until I became a mom. You are amazing!!!!