One of my dreams growing up was to become a mother. While some people decide not to have children, I couldn't wait for the day that I would be sharing into my child's eyes after giving birth to them. But, my dreams were almost shattered back in 2008 when I received a cancer diagnosis. If the cancer diagnosis was not enough, the doctors going over my treatment plan told me that with the radiation and high dose chemo treatments that I would have to undergo to battle my stage 2 cancer, that I would not be able to have children. Because of my rare type of cancer, they said they had to move quickly and begin treatment, so that it would not spread. They, did, however tell me that I had the option of freezing my eggs, but that it would be an expensive procedure to have and to keep the eggs frozen.
At the time, I was out of work, so we were in no position to pay for egg freezing. And, so I began the battle of my life, and underwent 38 daily radiation treatments and 5 rounds of chemo. In June of 2008, a month after my treatment, my scans came back clean, with no signs of cancer. Then, my recover began, as did my new life. If you have ever experienced cancer personally, then you know that cancer changes everything. Yes, you are still the same person on the outside, but on the inside you are changed.
I thought the day I heard the cancer was gone back in June was the best day of my life. But, I was in for an even better celebration, when I found out in 2009 that I was expecting my first child. Then, again in 2010, we found out Savannah would become a big sister to Arabella. Finally, my dreams of becoming a mom had come true. I am so blessed to be able to hear the girls call me "Mom" and give them hugs and kisses every day, as I watch them grow. I am so glad I didn't believe the doctors when they said I couldn't have children. I knew and still believe that miracles happen and dreams do come true. Just sometimes, the path that leads you to what you wish for is long and winding, with unexpected bumps along the way. But, in time, you will get where you want to go, if you have faith and believe, like I did. And, this Mother's Day, I will be celebrating the joys of motherhood with my girls, as I look forward to many more Mother's Day for me and for them.
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Joining me in celebrating the joys of motherhood this year is Trisha Henry Gaffney, another young adult cancer survivor, who, like me, was told she would never have children. Now cancer free for the second time, she is the proud mom to a beautiful daughter, Isabella, thanks in part to the Cancer Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer Center.
“You don’t want your
cancer to define you,” Trisha said, “but as you get older, you realize it plays
a much bigger part in your life than you’re willing to admit.”
The impact of the Aflac Cancer Center isn’t lost on Trisha. Without the intervention of doctors and nurses in her health, her life would be incredibly different.
"The Aflac Cancer
Center and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is one of
the largest childhood cancer centers in the country.This Cancer
Center is committed to providing childhood cancer patients a brighter future
through advanced medical treatment, family-centered care, a child-friendly
environment and innovative research.
Aflac is proud to
have donated more than $87 million to the Aflac Cancer Center, with the goal of
reaching $100 million by the end of 2015. Aflac Duckprints is committed in its
mission to eradicate childhood cancer. Thanks to donations made to the research
and treatment of this disease, 75 percent of childhood cancers can now be
cured".
“If I hadn’t had my friend telling me to go to the Cancer
Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer Center,” Trisha said, “I wouldn’t have my
daughter.”
Armed with the knowledge about her medications, treatments and the potential
challenges ahead, Trisha is empowered to be an advocate for her own health. She
knows it is survivorship that defines her ‒ not cancer. She encourages
survivors to take advantage of the resources available through the Aflac Cancer
Center so they can become healthy, happy adults ‒ and parents if they choose.
So, this Mother's Day, in addition to celebration the joys of motherhood with your family, I hope you will join me in helping Aflac achieve their goal of raising awareness and donations to aid in the fight against childhood cancer via a variety of social media activities using #Duckprints. The ultimate mission of Duckprints is to eradicate childhood cancer.
How You Can Help:
Aflac will donate $2 to the Aflac Cancer Center for every #Duckprints tweet/retweet on Twitter or post/share on Facebook. They need your help to get the word out! It’s an opportunity to not only help spread awareness, but to contribute to a great cause!
I hope you will help me in spreading awareness about the amazing work the folks at Alfac are doing at the Aflac Cancer Center to change lives, like that of Trisha Henry Gaffney's.
Now through Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 11), Aflac will donate $2 to the Aflac Cancer Center for every tweet/retweet, or post/share on Twitter or Facebook using the #Duckprints hashtag.
So tell your friends and family to tweet, post and share their little hearts out! :-) And, hopefully with your help, more childhood cancer survivors can experience the joys of motherhood like Trisha and I have. And, maybe...just maybe...we will be able to eradicate childhood cancer, as no person, especially young children, should have to fight for their life, due to a cancer diagnosis.
Don't forget to follow Aflac on their social media pages:
--GIVEAWAY--
I hope you will join me in engaging socially by using #Duckprints and reposting this blog post to increase awareness
and donations. By doing so, you will be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to
restaurant.com (to treat mom to a Mother’s Day dinner).
To enter this giveaway, please complete the entries on the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!
To enter this giveaway, please complete the entries on the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!
Disclosure: This giveaway was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Aflac. I was compensated to participate in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.
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