PDA

View Full Version : Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day October 13


Mtngrl
10-13-2013, 09:13 AM
I usually just lay low for the entire month of "Pinktober," but this year I feel a need to be more vocal.

My new avatar is a mandala I colored and sent to a friend in my in-person group who has reached the end of the line after 10 years of living with MBC. And live she did! Even now, in her last few days on this plane of existence. So full of life, such a wonderful, sparkling presence, so heartbreaking to have to say goodbye.

It's hitting me hard this year to look back and see how many beautiful souls have left us. I miss them and I ache for their families, and it reminds me that I, too, have a rendezvous with death that I can't avoid. When it comes, I'm sure I'll be OK, but I know others will be hurt.

It's insoluble, the human dilemma. The only way to be hurt is to be vulnerable, but it's also the only way to be fully alive. We were put here to love one another, and that inescapably includes the risk of loss.

I want people to know that breast cancer is not a "good" cancer. I want them to know that a substantial number of people are living with MBC and that, little by little, cancer makes their worlds smaller and more difficult and more painful. It's a blessing to have companions on the journey, but ultimately we all do the last bit alone. Let's hold hands and love each other and sing as long as we can.

Jen
10-13-2013, 09:35 AM
Amen Amy!!!!

JennyB
10-13-2013, 04:07 PM
Really beautiful Amy thank you.
I'm sorry about you're friend Amy she sounds like an amazing person. What a gorgeous mandala fantastic colours I am sure that was received with joy.
xx

Bunty
10-17-2013, 05:29 PM
Amy, sorry for not responding when I first read your post a few days ago - your heart and spirit was once again eloquently expressed. In today's Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Age, one of the opinion writers has contributed this story - see link.

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/one-colour-doesnt-always-fit-all-with-breast-cancer-20131017-2vpj9.html?rand=1559522

Mtngrl
10-17-2013, 05:52 PM
Bunty,

Thank you so much for posting that article. I love it. It gets right to the heart of the issue.

Bunty
10-17-2013, 06:04 PM
I wonder actually if the author of the article possibly was writing about Amanda (Mandamoo), as her funeral noticed specifically stated that no one was to wear pink to the service.
Marie x

Mtngrl
10-17-2013, 08:22 PM
I'm going to go ahead and believe it was Amanda's funeral. Good for her. Right on, Mandamoo! I'll continue to speak for you as long as I can.

Amy

Mtngrl
10-25-2013, 06:09 PM
Well the dreaded email came today. My beautiful friend died early this morning. She had HER-2 positive breast cancer. And a husband and 13-year-old daughter.

There was one blessing, though. I thought I'd never see her again, but she came to my women's stage 4 support group last Monday. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. We were all simultaneously crying and laughing, grieving and rejoicing. We don't usually touch each other, but this time there were hugs and kisses and hand holding. Our leader suggested we take a picture, and we posed for several. Then afterwards the leader asked me to read a prayer that a former member of the group had written.

Our friend promised to come back as often as she could, which we all knew might well mean we'd never see her again. But she still had her sense of humor and her beautiful smile, and her fashion flair. I'm so glad I got to kiss and hug her.

That last hour with her was holy.

Mtngrl
10-25-2013, 08:12 PM
Here's a picture from our meeting last Monday. Marilyn is the one seated on the left. Hester, our group leader, is standing on the right.

Three of us are named Amy. Four of us were born in the same year. One of the Amys (standing between me and Hester) has lung cancer. The other Amy (seated in the middle) has a very similar diagnosis to mine.

Bunty
10-25-2013, 08:50 PM
Dear Amy, thank you for sharing the sad news of your friend Marilyn - your description of your last meeting with her was beautiful and moving. I think those of us with MBC are at the coal face of life and death simultaneously, and reading about Marilyn's love of live, her sparkle is a reminder to us all about how precious and short life is (for anyone, even those who live a normal life span). I liked your last sentence very much, and how blessed that you and Marilyn had that hour of holiness.

Marie x

Mtngrl
10-26-2013, 07:52 AM
Thank you, Bunty. I'm glad you're part of my life.