Silver Lining of a Survivor

I am a survivor! Diagnosed in January 2016 with Breast Cancer, I have had multiple surgeries, from a mastectomy to reconstruction. I was scared. I felt like I was watching a movie instead of actually living it…very surreal. My family and friends were there for me and it would have been difficult to get through it all without their love and support.

Two weeks after being diagnosed, I met a very friendly Justine at the Lady Track Shack breast cancer 5K. She was at a booth with some other ladies, encouraging survivors to join her team. The team she was talking about is a Dragon Boat racing team, all survivors, Warriors on Water. I was intrigued, so I talked with her. She hugged me the moment I mentioned being newly diagnosed. I knew at that moment I wanted to join, but I didn’t even know what my treatment looked like at that time. I couldn’t commit just yet.

Fast forward to October, 2016. I walked the Making Strides breast cancer walk October 29. After the walk, while I was looking at the different vendors, one woman behind me asked if I wanted to go to Italy. I asked what she meant and she explained their team was preparing to race in the 2018 IBCPC Participatory Dragon Boat Festival in July. I was so excited when I heard her mention the dragon boat – it happened to be the same team I had spoken to Justine about. By this time, I was done with all my treatments. Even though I hadn’t fully regained my strength back, I told her to sign me up.

My first practice I felt so welcomed. I was barely able to keep up with these ladies, but they didn’t let me get discouraged. Instead, Yvette, the one I met in the line a couple weeks earlier, got everyone to sing happy birthday to me in the middle of the lake. We usually practice twice a week and we are working especially hard to prepare for the competition in Italy – currently there are 210 breast cancer survivor teams competing from around the world.

Money has been very tight for me since I was diagnosed. I was not able to work full time hours so I used all of my savings during my treatments. I took a job as an Office Administrator, and it pays enough to pay the bills – not much more.

I would be honored if you would contribute to my trip expenses – it has been a dream of mine to visit Italy since high school and I am excited that I get to be with some amazing women when I go for the first time...my silver lining.

Any funds that exceed my requested amount will be given to other survivors on the Warriors on Water team to help with their expenses.