In October of 2012, I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. I was only 38, a wife to a loving husband, and a mother of 4... this could not be happening to me! There were many things I could have done, but giving up was NOT one! As I took in all of this information, I had big decisions to make.
When they gave me my diagnosis, it sounded harsh. It was a rare type of cancer and the decisions had to be made quickly. At first we thought we'd keep this to ourselves, fight it, and it would just go away. Then I started thinking, "ya know, what if I just start talking about my condition, maybe... just maybe... there was someone out there just like me!"
Sure enough, after I started sharing, a childhood friend of mine sent me a message. She told me that her sister-in-law had just fought the exact same thing! She gave me her sister-in-law's number but before I could call her, she had already reached out to me! Now you can get information from doctors, books, the internet, etc. but to talk to someone who has already gone through this was very exciting for me.
My light through all the appointments, surgeries, and treatments was Jamie. She gave me information from experience, as only a survivor could give me. She remembered every appointment and would text me beforehand with relevant information. She'd always end her messages with, "YOU CAN DO IT!" Without Jamie I might have been scared, but her constant reminders that one day I'd be a survivor too kept me going through the most difficult and painful times. I thank God every day for putting Jamie in my life!
I've had a double mastectomy, 6 rounds of chemotherapy, 23 of 25 radiation treatments with my last 2 being this week. I DID IT!!!!
I will be meeting her face to face for the very first time and I will give her this key. Although she has been cancer free for almost a year now, I am giving her this FIGHT key because it's a reminder of how far she has come in this nasty battle, that she's won, and that she will need to continue the fight!
Keep fighting Jamie, and thank you for all you've done for me during my battle!
Your survivor friend,
Anne-Marie
