To me, being a survivor means living my best life, not taking things for granted, and being present in the moment.
I don’t want to be strong every day of my life and guess what it’s ok to not be. I have a village that picks up the days I am feeling weak and just don’t want to be strong anymore.
Living flat wasn’t a choice I thought about when I was diagnosed with cancer. Now I know that it wasn’t only a choice, but it was the right choice for me.
Everyone said it was the “best time” to be sick because he was too young to remember but I would watch him play until he got sad and would then ask me to play and I would have to remind him that Mama was sick.
Adjusting when it feels like all is taken from you. From being in control to finding peace.
This change to our bodies and the scars we now have reminded me of this Japanese art form called Kintsugi, which puts broken pieces of pottery together using lacquer and gold.
How I began to slowly fall in love with my body and redefined what sexy is to me.
I was then hit with the insta-browsing realization that everyone who has had breast cancer or a preventive mastectomy is in my tribe. Not because I found the #unilateralmastectomy, with gorgeous bodies flaunting all kinds of styles.
As my physical wounds heal, I find myself counting my scars, and tracing them with my fingers. But, rather than seeing mutilation, I see new life lines and possibilities in those scars.
I used to not want to take pictures from the chest down because of how I felt I looked. Now that I am two years out, it has gotten a lot better.
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.
