Angelina Jolie recently made news for "a preventive double mastectomy after learning she carries a mutation of the BRCA1 gene, which sharply increases her risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer." (CNN) She doesn't have cancer yet but her risk is so high she is taking preventative measures in hopes she'll be able to stop cancer before it starts. I'm sure she has her babies in mind.
This got me thinking about my own baby. After you become a mother your own health is so much more important to you. You want to live long enough to see your grandbabies and great grandbabies. I'd also like to be able to run around with them and play on the floor when I'm 85.
Heather emailed last week and shared with me her beautiful video and story. She is a mesothlioma survivor.
I am 44 and a mother to a quirky little 7 year old, Lily. She is my only child, and my whole world. When Lily was just 3 1/2 months old, I was diagnosed with mesothelioma; a type of cancer that kills most people within 2 years. As I’m sure you can imagine, the first thing that came to mind when I was diagnosed was my baby girl and how I wasn’t going to be able to watch her grow up.
After intense treatment and recovery, I’m still here 7 years later and cancer free! My journey with cancer was a terrifying one and I'd like to turn my pain into purpose and become someone that other people can look to for guidance, inspiration, and hope in situations like my own. My husband and I recently participated in a short video about my experience with cancer and I contacted you because I feel that your blog would be an excellent place to share. I’m hoping to use this video as a tool to raise awareness of this horrible little known cancer that is such a deadly killer (and sadly, 100% preventable).
Continue your prayers for everyone battling cancer, those who have fought and won, and for the families of those who have lost their fight to this horrible illness.