National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

I know that I would not have gotten through any of this nor will I be able to face what is coming next without my daughter Tracy. Words alone can't express what she has done for me.

Like any mother and daughter we have butted heads in the past and there were times when I thought that she would never speak to me again, but we always found a common ground to start talking again. Even though she may not be willing to admit it she is so much like me it is scary.

When the decision to remove both breast was make it was Tracy who insisted that I find a support group which lead me to this website and she was right. I don't think I could have asked for a more caring or understanding group of people to answer my questions or to dump on as needed. As the time of the surgery came near it was Tracy who kept my spirits up and make me laugh.

When I woke up in my hospital room Tracy was the first person I saw. She stayed at the hospital that night and I know she didn't get any sleep. Everytime I made a sound or moved she jumped up and came to my side. She helped me with my IV's when I needed to use the bathroom and was there to help me wash every morning. When I came home she did everything to insure my comfort and tend to my needs. I didn't ask how limited I would be after surgery, it just never occurred to me that I wouldn't be able to do the things I normally did. But Tracy took care of everything for me including tending to my JP drains and washing my hair because I am not allowed to raise my arms above my shoulders.

She has gone to every doctor's appointment with me and has asked all the questions that I seem to forget about. When they removed the first drain she held me in her arms and wiped away the tears I cried. When I was told about the pathology results she cried with me. Yesterday at the doctor's we found out that more test results have come back and there was some pre-cancer gowth in the right breast as well as the DCIS in the left. She just reached out and held my hand and said not to worry because we got it all. In 2 weeks when I go for my first visit to the oncologist to plan a course of treatment she has already told me she is going to be there and I'm not to argue about it. As she puts it after all she is my primay care giver and support.

She has taken up BC as her cause and now actually looks for everyday products she purchases that give part of their proceeds to fight BC.

God blessed me with Tracy and I hope and pray the He has blessed each of you with a Tracy too.