Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Just Do It

Just Do It.........October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and if you haven't scheduled a mammogram for yourself........now is the time to do it! Do it for yourself, do it for your family, do it because we need to take control of our health and be on the defensive against this ugly disease. We are all so busy in our lives trying to take care of everything, our jobs, our family, our homes that we forget to take care of the most important thing which is our health.




My Mom....Helen Marie









This is how I remember her

It's a simple procedure, it doesn't hurt and you could save a life......yours. If found early it is often treatable! You're worth it! So Just Do It! Get a mammogram. I was 36 when I started my yearly mammograms, you are never too young.

14 years ago on October 28th, 1996 breast cancer took my mom. She was 67, I was 36 years old. She had been diagnosed in May of 1991, just two months after my twins were born. She went through a mastectomy, all the treatments and was given a clean bill of health.....she was in remission. Then, just when she hit her 5 year marker, she said she wasn't feeling well, she had pain in her back, it was July 1996. I urged her to make an appointment with her doctor. I will never forget that day in mid July. It was my sister's birthday when mom told us it had come back and she was terminal and was given 3 months to live. The demon was back and it was growing throughout her body, it was already in her bones. Stage 4.


All I could think was .....3 Months!!!!! That is not enough time!!! Not enough time for me to have my mom! Not enough time for her to watch my children grow! How could I possibly put a lifetime into 3 months! How could I share all the things I needed to share with my mom in 3 months. I wanted her to teach me how to make her famous homemade bread and sweet rolls, so I could make them for my children. There wasn't enough time for all the things I wanted. What I did was spend every day with my mom, letting her know how much I loved her. And almost to the day, it was only 3 months that we had left.


Please, schedule a mammogram for yourself......Just Do It!


Until Later,
Toni

11 comments:

  1. That was very inspiring! I am so sorry of for the loss of your mom. October is my mammogram month every year. Great post!~Hugs, Patti

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  2. Toni, your mother was a beautiful lady. I am so sorry that you lost her at such a young age. I can't imagine life without my mom. My husband's mom is just finishing up chemo and radiation for breast cancer. The most emotional time was when he asked me if he was going to lose his mom. I didn't know what to say. So far, so good...we all have to remember the importance of getting checked and rechecked-thanks for the reminder!

    ~Trisha

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  3. Hi Toni,
    Mom's are so special :) I get mine done in November! Sorry that your Mom died so young.Love the first photo of her!
    Warmly,
    deb

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  4. Love the rminder, as I write this , im wearing my pink ribbon , and getting ready to go to a football game to watch my daughter cheer and where all the boys are wearing pink dyed socks and the girls have bug huge pink bows in their hair to remind everyone about Breast Cancer Awareness..
    Beautiful Pictures of your mOm...
    Great Blog,
    karryann

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  5. I just lost my mom to sinus cancer in May. It's hard. But we go on.

    http://heartofacountryhome.wordpress.com/2010/06/23/happy-birthday-to-the-best-mom-ever/

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  6. Hi Toni,thank you for the heart felt reminder..Your mum was lucky to have such a sweet daughter and you a courageous mother..I will make my booking..xx

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  7. What a touching story! Thanks for sharing!
    Theresa

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  8. Hello, I somehow came across your blog and just this past week my mother-in-law was diagnosed with double breast cancer. She too was given three months to live yesterday. I can't stress how important a mamogram is. She just one had a few months ago and said how painful it was, but what she didn't realize is that she had breast cancer. Thanks for sharing your story, Theresa

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  9. So sorry you lost your Mom to cancer too. Our story is similiar and the time frame quite close, and the loss both devestating for us their daughters. I was 34 when I lost my Mom and it was 15 years ago this past July, and sometimes it feels like yesterday. My Mom's cancer was a different kind, but ugly nonetheless.
    I have to note that your Mother was truly a beautiful lady and all of the photos reflect her beauty and zest for life.
    Quite an inspirational blog post and a great reminder. I have also taken it upon myself to be under a Naturopathic Dr's. care to ward off and try to prevent myself from being another cancer victim with precautions and changing my diet and lifestyle. I don't want to start once its diagnosed, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to do so.
    May peace be with you during this difficult time of the anniversary of your loss.
    Gretchen

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  10. My mom died in july...
    I don't believe it's true. I'm waiting for her, knoking on my door.
    But you remember to me, to take care of my health, because I AM a mom of a beautifull cute daughter -18 years old- I'm 48 and never had a mammogram.(yes, don't take care of me).
    Thank you
    Bisou de France (I found ideas for shabby bedroom,looking blogs, and your post really make me wake up...)
    (my english is not perfect I hope don't made non-sense)

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My door is always open & I hope you will come by often to visit, maybe have a cup of coffee or tea with me. ~Hugs, Toni~