October 1st is the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of this important event, I want to write a little about my friend Michelle aka The Pink Warrior Princess and the bravest girl I know. The tears are welling up as I write this but not out of sadness– hers is a story about strength.
Michelle Pre-Cancer
There are certain things in all our lives that feel too scary to think about– even after you're through the "danger zone." Michelle's cancer is one of those things for me. Even now, it feels incredibly tender to write about. But it's so important to share her story.
Michelle Today
It started in the summer of 2009. Michelle was getting ready in her bedroom and saw– yes saw– a lump in her breast. There was a flurry of doctor's appointment and tests. Things felt like they might be ok and then they were not. In July of 2009 Michelle was diagnosed with Stage 2b breast cancer. She underwent a double mastectomy. You have to know this girl had a figure to envy. Great curves and still petite. I expected her to be upset about the aftermath of the mastectomy. In addition to all the pain and discomfort, something that had been literally a big part of her was gone.
Fall 2009
Michelle amazed me with her calmness and strength. She was completely disinterested in wearing her prosthetics. She was totally comfortable with where she was at in her treatment. This picture is from last autumn. Michelle had just cut her hair to get ready for five months of chemotherapy and the possibility her hair would fall out. It did but her smile stayed put.
Sometimes I got the opportunity to go to Michelle's chemo appointments with her. It was actually fun (is it wrong to say that?) hanging out while we waited for the numbers to come back and the drip to start. I would be in the middle of what I thought was a hilarious story and then I'd look over and see she was asleep. She seemed so fragile to me during this time.
Winter 2009
Michelle had chemo treatments for months. She was sick and exhausted but her spirit never faltered. Her husband, two boys, family and friends all rallied around her but really it was Michelle who made everyone feel strong. Her sense of humor gave me comfort during this time. She's the most genuine and sweetest person I know AND she also has a wonderful ironic sense of humor and way of seeing things. She's VERY funny and her cancer took her hair but gave her some new material.
The Last Chemo Treatment
Her last chemo treatment was like a slumber party. All these girlfriends from different parts of Michelle's life, united in love for her. Within a few weeks, Michelle's hair started growing back and she embarked on seven weeks of radiation. She joked her 'do was getting long. This was around her birthday in April.
Happy Birthday, Warrior Princess
And here she is walking the runway at a fundraiser for the Seattle Chapter of Gilda's Club Spring of 2010. Doesn't she look fierce working the runway? That's her cute Mom Cheryl in the background. Michelle became a tireless advocate for cancer awareness and prevention. Was she doing better? Yes. Was it still a scary time? Definitely.
Gilda's Club
Fast forward to the present. Radiation in the hospital is over (there is a daily does of Taxol) and she's back at work. She has a clean bill of health and gets checked out every three months.
This is a special photo of Michelle. She's gracing the cover of the magazine for Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland, where she received her treatment. Did I mention that girlfriend is also a TV Anchor and Reporter? Yes she went through this whole deal in public and with so much grace.
And here's my most recent photo of Michelle from this week. Look at this woman literally glowing with strength. She's just gorgeous inside and out. I made her a few breast cancer awareness pendant necklaces and she's wearing one here. Hers reads "Courage."
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I want to send one to a few of you. It's my tiny thank you to the universe.
Just leave me a comment on this post about how breast cancer has had an impact on your life. The giveaway open for one week until 5 pm Friday October 8th. We'll pick a few winners. Please be sure to leave your email address so we can connect with you if you win.
To read more about Michelle's Journey check out her blog at KIRO TV. And this important page details Breast Cancer Basics. Through this extremely difficult year, I've seen Michelle become a fierce advocate for breast cancer awareness. Rising above her own fear and pain, she's given hundreds maybe thousands of people important information and more importantly– hope. Before Michelle's battle with cancer, I was a person who had a hard time letting friends know how I felt about them. And now– I realize each day is to be appreciated. It's so important to say what you need to say.
Michelle, I am amazed and awed by the strength and faith you've shown through everything this past year. I'm SO proud to be your friend. I love you!
Thanks for taking the time to read this post. Big Pink Hug!
Linking to some of these fab parties
What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing! My Mom’s a breast cancer survivor & this time of year is very important to me!
Thanks for sharing! Breast cancer has touched so many of us. We lost my mother in law 9 years ago to breast cancer. Same year we got married. :( I also have an aunt that is a breast cancer survivor! I’d love to wear one of your pendants! Thank you for a chance to win one!
info(at)capscreations(dot)com
Thanks for following and thanks for sharing this story with us. I am your newest follower!
What a beautiful tribute
Thanks for stopping by my blog, I’m following you back! What a great post, such a wonderful tribute to your friend!
My aunt passed away 4 years ago last month due to breast cancer. I think awarness is so important! Thanks again for sharing this!
One of my best friends is a survivor. She is doing well for 5-6 years now.
I worked in Palliative Care for 14 years and was always amazed by the grace and beauty of our clients..wishing your friend Michelle all the best..
what a beautiful story you’ve shared. Best wishes to your friend Michelle for continued health and wellness.
Have a great weekend Malia!
what a neat post!!
following you back! Thanks
YAY! for Michelle!!!! Michelle you are beautiful! Praise God he is wonderful.
My grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer almost 5 years ago. She is a breast cancer survivor. About a year ago, she was diagnosed again with cancer, this time it was Stage 1 Uterine cancer. They caught it quickly. She is now done with her treatments. Twice she has survived cancer, she’s a fighter.
BTW…I’m a new follower from Friend Finding Fridays w/Supermom
~Nicole
http://teampipkin.blogspot.com
nicolepipkin{AT}gmail{DOT}com
Thank you for your followship and your comment. I’m now following back.
Malia, thank you for sharing this story. What a strong encouragement she is to others. I am forwarding this on to a friend of mine who is going through much of the same thing.
Malia: The tears are streaming down my face. You celebrated the strength of our buddy Michelle with such tenderness and truth. She IS a Pink Warrior Princess. We’ve all learned from her battle. Thanks for putting how much — into words. Love ya, pal! Clancy
Michelle is such an amazing woman, and the perfect person to fight for a cure through the media. Breast cancer has taken the lives of too many women, and it’s time that we find a cure.
What a story! You have a cute blog, love your header. Thanks for linking up to FFF. I am now following you!
Xo, Supermom Alysha
My mom started her battle a few months before Michelle when she lost her hair I knew how hard it was and made sure she knew how amazing and beautiful she was. She had stage 3 inflammatory left and stage 2 in right. My mom Won her fight and since it is Breast Cancer Awareness month PLEASE Make sure you get your MAMMOGRAM!!!! Cancer hits every core of your body when you have to watch a loved one go through it we almost lost her but THANK GOD my amazing mother is still here I will cherish every day I have we have a new relationship!!
[email protected]
What a great story! Congrats!!
I’m your newest blog follower from Social Parade Friday- you can find me at
http://bethscoupondeals.blogspot.com/
Just stopping by and following your blog. Have a great weekend!
http://www.thewhitewhimsies.blogspot.com
What a beautiful post! I’m so happy to have come across your blog using the “Fabulous Friday Follow”! I’m your newest follower!
Dinner With Kir
I had become inspired by the strength of my Grandmother when she became a survivor several years ago. I got involved with the 3-Day, Race for the Cure, Relay for life and tomorrow I’ll be attending my first Walk for Hope on Sunday. I have always thought that being involved with these events was enough. I’ll never forget the day Michelle called me with her devastating news. Through her strength and positive attitude- she inspired me to spread “awareness” to as many people as I could. Since that day I have sent a monthly email to over 70 women to encourage them to do self breast exams & share the importance of mammograms. I hope like everyone- they find a cure …in the meantime I’ll have to settle for early detection. Thank you Michelle for the inspiration! !!
my son michael married this fantastic woman! wisest decision he ever made. i know in all the comics and shows you see the mother-in-law always has a problem with the daughter-in-law. not in this case if i had been asked to go find a wife for my son i could not have found anyone anywhere that i would have liked any better. my son says the same about michelle. with love sandy
Thank you for sharing this! Your friend sounds amazing and you all are lucky to have her in your lives as she is to have you :)
I haven’t been impacted, (knock on wood), knowing anyone with breast cancer. However, other forms of cancer took my mom, my aunt and my grandmother from me. My Step-father also has Cancer, and he is a fighter even if he says he’s not trying! Was diagnosed with bone and prostate cancer almost 13 years ago, and his Dr’s gave him 18 months to live. My biological father passed away 2 weeks after my Step-Dad was diagnosed and I told him at my Dad’s funeral, “You can’t leave me right now. Fight this, for me if no one else, because I can’t lose two dads in less than two years from each other.” He looked at me, knowing he was already given a death sentence and said he will try his best. Well, almost 13 years later and he is trying his best :) Even his Doctor told him, I don’t know how in the world you are still with us. Cancer, no matter it’s target, has definitely affected a vast majority of people around the world.
I am so happy for your friend!
And thank you for stopping by at the Single Parent Retreat. I am following you back and am glad to have found your blog!
Thanks for following me! I am following back!
http://kennalarae.blogspot.com
How Awesome, and it’s also so encouraging that she has wonderful friends to support her!
I’m following back!
Hi! I’m following you back from Social Parade. Thanks for stopping by! My Great Aunt suffered breast cancer, and it was very hard on her. She is cancer free now ,but it was a frightening time for our entire family. I don’t think she realizes how strong of a woman she really is. Thanks again for sharing this story!
http://www.frugalinvitation.com
Beautiful post, Malia!
Hi! I’m a new follower of your very lovely blog.
Have a wonderful weekend!!
Such a touching story! Thanks for sharing it. I enjoyed ready her story.
Thank you for stopping by my blog Pocket Full of Pink. I appreciate your comments! Have a great weekend-
Malia, what a beautiful post! Michelle truly is an inspiration for all of us! You are a wonderful friend. Thanks for sharing this with all of us. xoxo
Jamie Jensen
thanks for visiting, following back.:)
stacey @ ecomodern mom
thanks for sharing. I have 2 friends that have just been diagnosed.
Thanks for stopping by my blog…following back!
Diane
Last year a mom from my child’s class had breast cancer. She has 4 kids!
She is in remission and it has really touched me.
Thanks for sharing this, beautifully said.
Malia, thanks for such a beautiful blog about my dear friend. Beautiful inside and out and has been her entire life! What a warrior she is and a sign of strength to all who have been affected by this awful disease. Thanks again for sharing! Hugs, Cindi
What an inspirational story of courage, strength and friendship. Thanks for sharing. Love you Malia :)
what a BeaUTiFuL tribute! thank you Malia for posting! being my birthday month [5th] as well, this is so relevant not only to myself but my heart for my own daughter & all daughters. to make time for self care. to make time for caring for other women. to make time for spiritual care. i have had a dear friend from CWC pass thru this valley ~ thankfully not alone! another friend living in my same block of flats. my father’s own experience of skin cancer & his losses impacted ea of us family members, & how grateful we had ea other & God’s grace to carry us through!
you’ve done a wonderful thing by posting, Malia! may you be entirely blessed for it!
i’m so plsd to have found you thru Keren’s blog comments… thank you!
you are a wonderful friend, and Michelle sounds like a wonderful person-and a true survivor. While breast cancer has not touched me personally, friends, co-workers and even my daughter’s day care teacher have all had breast cancer. I admire their strength, and willingness to fight this terrible disease-even when they are having bad days. I’m going to a benefit breakfast tomorrow for breast cancer, and I would love to win one of these necklaces to give to Mrs. Gurney as she has been a survivor for a little over a year.
What a beautiful tribute to one of my heroes. Michelle is a dear friend dating back to our freshman year at UW. Bless her for sharing her story that has touched so many lives in different ways. Love that girl!
This is so beautiful and compassionate, thank you for following http://www.hollywoodglamorous.com the favor has been returned. Can’t wait to see more of your posts.
Amanda
My Mom posted this on Facebook today.. “Happy Birthday sister Irene, would have been 69 today, been missing you for 14 years. RIP 10/3/1941 – 8/23/1996 I wear my pink ribbon every day in your memory to bring awareness to breast cancer”
She has worn that pink ribbon since that day in May 1996 when her sister was diagnosed. Her sister was gone less than 4 months later..
What a lovely post Malia, about your strong and beautiful friend! My mom is also a breast cancer survivor, she was diagnosised shortly before I got married…so for over ten years.
What a beautiful post, Malia (thanks, Jeff for sending the link.) I’m going to post a link on Facebook. Who among us hasn’t been touched by this dreadful disease? I lost one of my golfing pals to complications 1.5 years ago. One of my best friends is a survivor. Together, we’ll find a cure.
Goodness, that just moves me to get all teary-eyed. I rejoice with you that Michelle has a clean bill of health. Praise the Lord!
Who hasn’t been touched by breast cancer? I was pondering all of the lovely women I know who have had a diagnosis or a pre-cancer or a lump that had to be checked. I couldn’t run in our local Race for the Cure this year, but if I had my t-shirt would read: In Honor Of: Wilma, Aunt Ruth, Debbie, & Jessica In Memory Of: Paula & Kathy
Thanks for the reminder to enjoy today & the ones we love because there is no guarantee of tomorrow.
Big pink hug right back at ya!
Wow. At 37, I was diagnosed with Stage 2b (same as Michelle’s) breast cancer. We had just moved to Seattle and our children were 3.5 years old and 6 months old. I’m currently in the middle of chemo – post bilateral mastectomy. I recognize that this is a season…and like Michelle, I’m gonna kick cancer’s hiney! Doesn’t matter how many times you get knocked down, it matters how many times you get up again! Thanks for sharing her incredible story.
I found your blog on Tag Along Tuesday. This post really touched me, A LOT. My moms twin sister had breast cancer last year. She went under chemotreatments everyday. But now she is CANCER FREE. But now, Mom just found out she has lymphoma, a cancer of the blood. And she is so scared. She goes for me bone marrow sample and pet scan tmrw. Please pray for her (:
Samantha
http://www.samanthasaccessories.blogspot.com
[email protected]
I work at the cancer center where Michelle was treated, and was honored to help take care of her during her chemo. She is so upbeat and positive, and honestly one of the nicest women I’ve ever met. She always wanted to know what was going on with our kids, and laughed at all of our stories of our families. I look forward to her visits to the clinic – fortunately she does not have to come in very often!
Kris B. – Medical Assistant
Thank you for sharing this story! I just recently walked a similar journey with my mom (she is now in complete remission from Mantle Cell Lymphoma).
Glad I came hopping through… and am now a new follower too!
http://familyof6on26kyear.blogspot.com/
I am always in awe of the strength I see in woman when faced with adversity. What an amazing woman and an amazing tribute. You are both lucky to have one another. I had one friend to be diagnosed with breast cancer and just that diagnoses changed my perception on life so much. (Perfect for tickled pink)
I have been a fan of Michelle’s for a long time…and I was also diagnosed with breast cancer July 2009. I am luck to have avoided chemo but went through surgery and radiation. I was delighted she led the survivor’s parade for the Race for the Cure and her words were very inspirational at the survivors luncheon in September. Continued good health to you.
A mammogram saved my life. Breast cancer runs in my family. I had my routine mammogram on 4/30/10, just a few days past my 50th birthday. I was feeling good, strong, healthy – I had recently lost 100 pounds and I spent my 50th birthday hiking. It was a glorious way to turn 50! 5/3/10 my phone rang mid morning and it was my dr wanting to discuss the mammogram. I said, “here we go”…fully believing she was going to tell me I had breast cancer. She said no, the breast tissue is fine. My lymph nodes were so swollen and enlarged, they pushed into the breast tissue and a very alert radiologist reading my films called my dr right away. The mammogram was Friday, Monday my dr saw me and agreed, I needed a CT scan right away. Wednesday I had that, she called me at 12:05pm to tell me she was very sorry, but yes – the test was indicitive of Lymphoma. Friday I saw an oncologist. The following week biopsies were done. I have Stage IV Follicular Lymphoma – it is in my bone marrow and spleen. Much longer and it would have been in other vital organs. That mammogram and that alert radiologist saved my life. Lymphoma is NOT ever diagnosed through a mammogram…but it was for me. I just finished chemo on 9/22. At this time my cancer is not curable, but it is treatable and I will fight with every ounce of fight in me. I have participated in the 3 day walk for the last 3 yrs, City of Hope walk for the last 4 yrs.and I will continue to advocate breast cancer awareness as we are all at risk.
I was diagnosed for breast cancer last year during the awareness campaign. Now is my turn to stand for the cause and educate others. Wear the pink ribbon and become a part of breast cancer awareness campaign.
Thank you for posting this story. Although I don’t know Michelle personally, I have communicated with her by email a couple of times. Of course, I watch her on the news on TV, but I didn’t learn about her cancer until she was featured on a calendar that my nephew and his wife created. My sister has breast cancer and she is featured on the calendar too.
I don’t have breast cancer, but I do have cancer… Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and I begin chemotherapy on Monday. I had five weeks of radiation last year and then had a relapse. I’ve been reading other people’s stories trying to find some strength to face all of this. You post helped. Thank you.
Malia, not sure if you have seen my comment yet on SITS today. I came here first and not your home page. I am currently walking through this with a girlfriend who lives in a different state and so visiting and being hands on is virtually impossible for me. I am looking for ways to help support my friend who lives with her parents (along with her 11 year old daughter). She has stage 4 and has been fighting this since last September (then was only given a few weeks to live!). Thank you for your post of encouragement and to give me the courage to write about my friend. If you have any resources that you found helpful or might suggest I would love them to be sent my way. So happy I found you via SITS. You have a new follower. BTW…where are you from? Maybe I should go look at your About Me. My husband is Samoan and has some family and friends with the name Malia so I’m wondering if you are an Islander. Leah
I am a breast cancer survivor, I was diagnosed last September 2010. I went through chemo and radiation. I was watching channel 7 a couple of days ago. My hair looks exactly like Michelle’s. I knew eventually it would grow back.
During my treatments I thought I would never get through it. The power of prayer and the support from friends and family made me get through it. I admire your strength also Michelle…