Everyone Has a Breast Cancer Story. Here's Mine.
A Wednesday at My Stove
Back when I was working part-time, one of my closest friends was a teacher and a single mom. We had a Wednesday routine to make things a little easier for her. I'd pick up her son with my kids after school, so she could spend an extra hour uninterrupted in her classroom. I'd take the kids home and start dinner, and when she finished up at school, she'd come over and join us.
One Wednesday, she came in while I was standing at my stove, stirring the hamburger meat. I remember we were chatting about nothing important when the conversation shifted. She told me she had found something odd in her breast and asked me what I thought.
I immediately stopped stirring. I looked at her and said, "Let's go to the doctor right now," which was completely absurd, because it was about 5:30 at night. I even suggested going to the ER. She downplayed it and said she was sure it was nothing.
A Week of Texts
The next day, I texted her asking if she had called the doctor. She told me she hadn't. That went on for an entire week: me texting her, and her telling me she hadn't.
I couldn't shake the feeling that the Lord was pressing something on my heart. I knew she shouldn't wait to have it checked. Finally, after a week of me practically harassing her, she told me she had called the doctor. In fact, I remember the text said, "I called the doctor. Fine." I still chuckle to myself. I had clearly irritated her.
As my story goes, she went in, and they ran tests, and those tests led to more tests.
A Nudge on My Heart
One afternoon, after picking up my kids, I was leaving the school where she taught, and I felt a nudge on my heart. I passed the exit I usually took to leave the campus and drove around to her building. Something told me to go into her classroom and check on her, so I did.
I remember knocking on her door and seeing her standing at the front of her classroom, resetting it for the next school day. I asked if she had heard anything, or when they might call. She said she expected a call any day, any minute, any second.
I remember our conversation trailed off and we had completely changed topics when her cell phone rang. I knew immediately who it was by the look on her face.
To this day, I believe God put me in that room for a reason. I was standing beside her when she heard some of the hardest news of her life.
The only thing we could turn to was our faith. We prayed. We called friends, and they came to her classroom and prayed with us, and we prayed for a very long time.
It turned out she had cancer. In time, she had a double mastectomy.
I am happy to say that the cancer had not reached her lymph nodes, the surgery was a success, and to this day she is cancer free.
I've thought about that Wednesday for years. It's forever etched on my mind.
Every Story Matters
But my story, really her story, is not the only story behind the pink ribbon. Many women have fought through breast cancer and come out on the other side. Others fought just as bravely and didn't get the ending they prayed for. Every story matters.
This collection is for them. It's for her. Maybe it's for you.
Pink is not just a color of celebration. It can be a color of courage, remembrance, hope, grief, strength and love.
My friend is just one of the inspirations behind the Pink Ribbon Collection. Every ribbon I painted on these beads reminds me of her, our faith, and the many people affected by breast cancer.
Be the Friend Who Cares
Friend, if something doesn't feel normal, call your doctor. And if a friend tells you something isn't right, be the friend who cares.
