Breasts are for hearts, not for cancer.

This is the most difficult post I’ve ever had to write.

If I had to list the most influential women in my life, my mom and my Aunt Lori would be dangerously close to the top of the list.

I grew up down the street from my Aunt, Uncle and 3 cousins.  But we are an incredibly close family because of more than just geography.  The ties between my mom and my Aunt are strong and steadfast, forged in the tragedy of an accident that killed my Aunt’s brother and my Mom’s husband thirty years ago.  Though this is something I never understood as a child growing up.  They were just the  people that were there to protect me, to love me, feed me, and clean up the Kool-Aid that I’d inevitably spilled.  As constant support and encouragement, they have given me the roots to become who I am.

In May of 2002, my Aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer.  At 11 years old, I knew that “the big C” was serious, but it never seemed to cause my Aunt to slow down.  At 43 years old and as the mother of three children, she simply didn’t have time to let cancer affect her.  She was still running around to soccer games and band concerts, kicking us off the couch every Saturday morning, luring us outside to the fresh air with the promise of a quarter per bag of leaves we could rake, and kicking my butt in Scrabble every chance she got.

According to my Aunt, losing her hair saved her money on shampoo and gave her an excuse to go hat shopping.

When the chemotherapy and radiation showed little improvement, she went ahead with a double mastectomy.  Still, she used it as an assurance to my cousin and I that, despite us being in the holds of pubescent insecurities, we’d never again need to worry about be the most flat-chested in the family.

I know, amazing is an understatement.

For the past eight years, my Aunt has courageously battled cancer, taking on new treatments whenever they were available.  In the winter of 2009, it was discovered that her cancer was growing and her treatments were having little impact.  In January of 2011, she decided to stop treatment all together.

As of this week, she has slipped in and out of consciousness and her hospice nurse predicts that she will pass within the speedily approaching 48 hours.

Breast Cancer is a horrible, loathsome disease that I hate with all my heart.  It has stolen from my family and so many others, and that makes me livid.  I want to do anything I can to stop this from happening to others.

JMU’s Relay for Life is scheduled for April 16, 2011, and I’d encourage everyone who can to come out and support.  Check out their info page on Facebook here.

Also, my cousin Jamie is running the Shamrock Half Marathon in honor of my Aunt.  If you are interested in donating, she will be running for the American Cancer Society and you can get more info here.

Also, consider showing your support with products that donate proceeds to the Susan G. Komen foundation.  You can even buy breast cancer stamps at the post office.  And when the problem is as big as cancer, every little bit helps.

In the mean time, please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers.  Thank you for being such a great community of readers.  And please: stay healthy.  Be aware.

**EDIT:  My Aunt passed around 9pm tonight.  I know she is at peace now, but please keep my family in your hearts during this tough time.**