Cheerleaders

Don't judge me - I was in 9th grade

First off let me start this post by saying THANK YOU for all the support, prayers and loving words of encouragement I have received over the past couple of days!  I thought that if I was lucky, a couple people would read my blog, post a comment or maybe even send me a message; but the outpouring of love, even from complete strangers, has been overwhelming to say the least.  Thank you to everyone out there and your prayers are always welcomed!! 

I received a message the other morning after my first post from a young woman that read my blog because a mutual friend had liked it on facebook.  She recently found out she too has a genetic mutation that causes breast cancer and had questions - when she reached out to me I knew that starting this blog was the right thing to do.  I don’t want anyone to feel bad for me, that’s not my motivation for writing. In all honesty my motivation is actually that someone going through a similar situation would feel compelled to reach out to me.  If these ramblings can help even one person then it’s completely worth it.

In this post, I really want to thank my cheerleaders – my girlfriends, near and far, that have been walking this journey with me and for their shoulders to lean on!  I remember sitting at Za’s this past November celebrating my 32^nd birthday with a handful of these cheerleaders and announcing to them that I was going to start the process.  Saying the words out loud brought tears to my eyes but I also remember all the genuine love and relief I felt from telling someone other my husband and my mom that I was going on this journey.  You see, I had a chip on my shoulder growing up and it wasn’t really till college that I learned many life lessons about who I am and who I want to be as well as about friendships and the NEED for them in my life.  I know now that I wouldn’t be so at peace with my situation and my decision if it wasn’t for them.  I have strengthened many friendships, made several new ones and rekindled others from years past, all because of this “disguised blessing” that God gave me.  These friends, old and new, will be another reason why this journey will be worth it. 

I received another message from someone this week and although I was confused at first (I thought he was going to tell me my blog sucked) his message went on and at one point it read “it sounds like you have a tight knit family and close friends.  You’re going to need those resources after your surgery in September.  Disregard the physical aspects of the operation for a brief moment.  Prepare yourself mentally.”   As I laid in bed and read that blurb over and over again, I remembered something I read a couple weeks ago, that having a mastectomy was like having an amputation – you lose a piece of yourself.  I keep thinking about his words and wondering am I mentally prepared?  I know I am – my husband, my mom, my family and my friends – with their support I can do and get through anything.

Everyone, I wish I could give you each a hug but a thank you through my insignificant little blog, or the intra-webs as my hubby calls it, will have to do for now – THANK YOU