When I stop to think of the bright side, I think of my husband, my co-survivor. During active treatment, I was so focused on myself that I didn’t stop to think about how afraid he must be. But I noticed what he did. He took care of me.
They are outspoken, intelligent, independent, unapologetically themselves, and strong… but what does “strong” mean anyway?
Amongst all the good times, the #baddies also came to handle business. We spent a full day learning and strategizing so that we can all contribute to expanding the reach of For the Breast of Us. It was a great time bouncing ideas off one another, learning of each other’s strengths and areas of interest, and committing to work together to ensure that other women get to experience For the Breast of Us. We entered as strangers, but we left as sisters.
After just one day with these women, it felt as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I was stripped of the armor I seemed to wear daily. The armor of the strong mother and daughter, the wife who was rediscovering her sexuality, the strong black woman at work .. even the model Breast Cancer thriver. Amongst that group of amazing women, I got to shed these layers, bare my soul, and eventually bare parts of my body that others often take to represent the extent of our journeys.
And after three years in therapy and three “one-more chances,” the foundation of my marriage crumbled. But even so, God gave me beauty for ashes.
No one prepares you for a broken vag when you’re 40 and diagnosed with breast cancer.
Your voice, your story, and your support can make a difference. Join For the Breast of Us in our mission to empower, support, and advocate for women of color across the globe. Together, we can create a future where every woman has the resources and support she needs to overcome breast cancer.
On the Web:
www.breastofus.com
www.breastofusfoundation.org
Email:
hello@breastofus.com
Welcome to our community—where hope thrives, strength is found, and sisters in the fight become family.
