Archive for October 2009

Huge thank you for everyone’s emails regarding yesterdays post.

I wanted to share a couple of those stories with you today.

Jennifer Sutter told me about her friend Heather Ray. Jennifer’s sister posted a video about Heather Ray on her blog, click here to see the video, {the video isn’t very long, so good. Watch it.} What Heather Ray has been through is beyond my understanding, and how positive and strong she’s stayed through it all speaks volumes to me. Here’s what Jennifer had to say in her email:

“Heather is my oldest friend.  We met in 3rd grade and I was with her the day she found out she had cancer at age 12, was with her at her amputation operation and all of her chemo treatments.  Not fun, but somehow we did our best to laugh.  Truly heartbreaking to know later in her life she still must fight.   A true hero and inspiration to all of us who know her, and those who don’t.  I am proud to be her friend and thankful for people like you and Joanna have the outlet to reach so many with her story.  THANK YOU!!”

Another story I wanted to share with you is from LeighAnn. Here is her story about her Mimi:

LeighAnn with her Mimi

“my grandmother had breast cancer…actually she has had cancer THREE times. Let me tell you her journey. When I was a little girl my Mimi, was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was devastating because no one in our family had had cancer before. Not only did she have breast cancer, but she had the most rare breast cancer. She battled it, did chemo and radiation, had a double masetcomy, and won. Then started the remission (you have to be in remission for 10 years before they say you are cancer free). So every year she went for check ups, tests, and exams. On her 10th year check up, I was a freshman in college, I was walking to english class in the rain, I was by the Science building when I got the call that Mimi had cancer again. I was so mad…why would this happen to her again? I didn’t go to class, instead  I went home because I was so upset. This time the cancer was Uterine Cancer, it seemed like an easy fix because they should have just been able to remove her uterus, but no! She again had the most rare cancer, it was called Clear Cell Carcenoma, the reason it is so rare, is because the cancer cells are clear and they can’t see them come up on tests and scans. So the only way to know if the cancer was still there was to watch her other organs to see if they started failing…so she started chemo and radiation again. During this we always did Breast Cancer walks and helped out in diffrent ways to help raise money for breast cancer research. My senior year in college they saw the cancer coming back…her uterus had been removed but the cancer traveled to her lungs, the reason that they found this is because she got a spot on her lungs, otherwise they would have never know that this “clear” cancer had come back. so this time she got uterine cancer on her lung…it wasn’t lung cancer-isn’t that crazy? She had surgery and removed a 1/3 of one of her lungs and did Chemo and radiation again…She is doing well now and the doctors say that she doesn’t have cancer right now. Let me tell you a little bit about her, she is 63 years old, she is a fighter, goes to Chruch every sunday and never lost hope one time. I love her, she is nothing but inspiration to me. If I could give her an award I would. If I had cancer 3 times, I might feel like giving up, but she hasn’t!”

Thank you LeighAnn and Jennifer for sharing these stories. I encourage all of you to keep Heather Ray & Mimi in your prayers. Just like Heather Ray said, people who’ve had breast cancer always worry it may come back. I pray for constant peace in their lives.

If you would like to share your story, whether it be you or someone you know who’s fighting/fought breast cancer and want to share it with Team Giles readers, I’d love to hear from you, email me at: [email protected]

How’s that for  perspective on your Friday? I know that I can get caught up in the petty things in life, and being reminded that so many people, so many women are fighting battles that are beyond my comprehension, really bring me back into reality. I hope these stories have touched you, inspired you, spoke hope and encouragement to who, no matter what battle you’re facing, big or small.

For tomorrow, I’ll be getting up at crack O’dawn to run 8 miles. Holy monkey. Can’t wait to tell you about it Monday. Have a great weekend!!!