Meet Kathryn, October’s SMOV Survivor

Not all stories are the same. Some are more tragic and traumatic than others, but all are personal to those walking through it.

I was diagnosed with Breast cancer in August of 2019. I was 44. It was an annual screening that ended with “we see something want to take a closer look”. This of course segways into ultrasounds, needle biopsies, and mammogram biopsies in quick succession. Meet with this person and that person…so much information, opinion, and decisions have been thrown at you when your mind is stuck at “you have cancer”.

I do not live near family so I’m on my own. Long story short, I chose a bilateral mastectomy. My surgeon sold it as a “one and done”, which as seemed like the best scenario. Just get it over with and wave the pink flag. Unfortunately, we did not get clean margins. Nor did we after surgery number two six weeks later. My option was to let them hack away at me again until they got a result they were happy with or to wait and see what happens. I am currently waiting…waiting for the 5-year implant check-up MRI…waiting to feel a lump that might materialize…waiting for cancer to show up somewhere else…just waiting.

So, now I am angry. Angry that I gave up my breasts and still have cancer. Angry that I do not have a good way of checking for further disease. Angry that the providers don’t seem to have any accountability for outcomes.

Moving from anger to acceptance and acceptance to empowerment requires re-framing. It’s not easy to reframe the past without removing yourself from your experience. I joined the Phoenix Desert Dragons dragon boat team. They have provided local purpose, challenge, comradery, and support when needed. It was a perfect first step and here is where I found “Send Me On Vacation” to give me the opportunity to attend a vacation for my spirit where my body and mind can start to heal from the nightmare of it all. Italy seems like a great place to re-frame, let go of the things I can’t change, and make peace with my current reality. For once in many years, I feel a twinge of hope and excitement at the chance of being selected to attend.

Kathryn

A Special thanks to Sponsor: Bennett Lane Winery

Send Me on Vacation’s mission is

“To Provide a much-needed vacation to underserved women with breast cancer who need a place to rejuvenate and heal their body, mind, and spirit.” The adverse effects of fighting cancer can leave women, their families, and friends in shambles. We believe that an essential first step in surviving the effects of breast cancer is to provide survivors with a healing vacation to “take a break” from the fight. If interested in becoming a recipient, donor or sponsor please contact us at backuscathy@gmail.com www.sendmeonvacation.org