October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer and Alzheimer's has claimed my grandmothers' as victims. I am always working to fight for both causes and this month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! 

Breast Cancer will be detected in one out of every female born. Women are more at risk: the older they get; the more alcohol they consume; if there is a history of Breast Cancer in their family and if they are of African-American descent. 

This is the 20th Anniversary of the Women's Only 5K Walk/Run in Greensboro, North Carolina to raise money for screenings in the community! It is important that everyone starts screening as early as possible, I believe the age of eligibility varies depending on the medical insurance. 

My grandmother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease for about five years now.  She was the first housewife I ever met. She showed me how to run a household, how to be attentive to a man (my grandfather) and how to be an entrepreneur - she ran a childcare service out of the house. My grandmother taught me how to cook my first few dishes - scrambled eggs, eggplant ptarmigan and  sweet potato pie.

She was also the first person I knew who was a Cancer (Breast) Survivor!

The older I grew the more I found out about my grandmother as a woman. I found out that she had a bout with Breast Cancer that left her with a long lasting scar that made her insecure. She has overcome Breast Cancer but her brother died of Lung Cancer and her sister died of Leukemia. I am so happy that I still have my grandmother!

Every year my mother and I participate in the Women's Only 5K Run/Walk here in Greensboro, North Carolina and hosted by Moses Cone's Women's Hospital. All funds being raised sponsors pre-screening for women (mammograms). The walk is always the first Saturday in October, I will be there this Saturday, October 6th at 7am. We always run/walk for Grandma.



Three years ago we were able to convince my Grandmother to walk with us. It was a struggle for her but that's just because it was hot, and her legs are so short!

Now that she has accepted that she has Alzheimer's she is more open about being a Breast Cancer survivor.

Right now there is no cure but there is an opportunity for early detection...and with early detection we can have more survivors of Breast Cancer and fewer lives lost!

The Long-Term Effects

This blog is going to be a little different. It will be more about me and less about Alzheimer's. I would like to start off talking about Alzheimer's and how it has affected my life...

I have been taught that with God's grace, I am able to handle anything that the devil puts in my path. Preparing myself for Alzheimer's was something I needed to do one day at a time. It is a different disease and it breaks your heart everyday that you witness it. Since my paternal grandmother has passed away and my maternal grandmother is living with the earlier stages of Alzheimer's, I live with some sense of fear at all times. I fear that an accident will happen that will take my grandmother's life and the life of my grandfather due to her disease. I fear that any one of my family members, including myself will suddenly wake up without knowing who or where they are.

Ever aspect of my life has suffered since my grandmother passed away in October of 2011. My family went through a rough spat of grief for several months and I know we are still grieving, things just seem less intense. I personally have damaged a relationship that I hold very close to my heart. I lost my footing on my path to success and I am still trying to find it again. I have been unemployed and I really am missing everything that once brought me joy and a sense of accomplishment. My father, I know has experienced far worse grief than I have and I have done my best to be a support to him and my mother.

My mother and father have it rough because my mother has to work, so when my father needs to talk and my mother is at work, the poor guy is left with me (smile). I have worried tirelessly about him and I have prayed for him and argued with him, do not let this be the end of your life too. My grandfather needs him. I do not know how extensive his sorrow is but I hope that he knows that he can talk to us when things are bothering him. All in all, this experience has forced me to mature in the following ways:

1. I have to let people know how much I value them while I have them here, with me on earth
2. Life does not stop when an individual experiences a tragedy, "the show must go on"
3. Everyone will not be understanding of your situation, communication = understanding