My sister is a rockstar. She’s beautiful inside and out, and she’s an inspiration to all of us. After spending a good part of last week in Colorado Springs, I can tell you she’s one of the strongest people I know. She is a rock for her family, friends and everyone she has touched. I could not be more proud of her. I don’t think she knows how truly strong she is.
October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, has a whole new meaning to our family this year. As I spent the past days “helping” my sister recover from one of many surgeries she will have over the next year, I was amazed at just how strong you really are when you have to be. My sister could have just been weak and given up when she faced adversity earlier this year, when she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Her diagnosis was a shock to all of us, in fact, when she called to say she needed to have a lump checked out, I completely denied any worry because at the age of 32, she was just too young. But cancer doesn’t discriminate, and a short time later at this young age, this amazing person I call my sister, a mama to 2 boys and wife, a daughter, a friend, was diagnosed with Breast Cancer: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (an aggressive Breast Cancer), Stage 3 (because it’s also in her lymph nodes), and Triple Negative, which just means that it’s negative to the three receptors they have extra meds they could use to fight it, so the only option given to her to fight is chemo, no other drugs.
But in all of this, my sister has never given up. She could have been weak when she was told she was also BRCA1+, meaning not only will she undergo a double Mastectomy but also an Oophorectomy before the age of 40, but she wasn’t. She’s been fighting since the day she found out. I know that for the last few months, with all of her chemo treatments and bad news, it’s been a difficult road, but I am PROUD of how my sister has fought, and continues to do so today.
With the first of her surgeries behind her, she also received at least a little positive news in her Pathology report: she responded very well to the 2nd Chemo drug. The bad news with that, is that she has to receive a couple more treatments before she can begin radiation, and the rest of her surgeries. I know this was not necessarily the news she wanted, but regardless of her knowing her holidays will be spent in hospitals, she remains encouraged and positive about her treatment and progress.
When I knew I would be going to Colorado Springs to spend time helping after surgery, I had a vision of something I wanted to create. Her boys are just amazing, they are big helpers when they need to be, but I know it’s hard on them seeing their mama sick. With the help of a wonderfully generous photographer in the area, Melissa J Photography, I had this great plan of where I would take the boys for this fun little session. Time, life and snow just got away from us and it was way too hectic to get away. But I knew that wasn’t the point. I wanted my sister to be reminded of these two amazing boys who love her so much and know how much of a fighter their mama is. So instead, we rocked the pine trees at their house in the middle of the day, which were all so close to burning just a few months ago. Instead of the death and despair some of the fires caused right around them, there is life. And just like the outside of their home, inside there is just as much life, and LOVE.
This little session was mad craziness and full of wild boys (and one little princess helper), but ultimately, I hope this puts a smile on their mama’s face. A gentle reminder of what you are fighting for. And that you are not alone, we are all fighting for you and we ALL love you so much! You are a FIGHTER. Keep on….
to follow my sisters journey, click here + KOAA Video here + KRDO video here
