An inside look at our Co-Founder Amy’s story as a “thriver” of breast cancer
It was always my biggest fear. Breast cancer. My grandma, whom I adored, lived with us during the final year of her life after a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. I was 10 years old. The cancer had metastasized to her bones and she was in a lot of pain. She was frail and weak, not the fun grandma I knew and loved. We are Catholic and she asked me to pray the rosary that she would die one night before I went to bed. She was heavily medicated and not thinking clearly when she asked me, I'm sure. I prayed with her rosary as she asked and then fell asleep. The next morning my older sister told me she had died during the night. For years I couldn't remember her alive, only her in the casket with the rosary entwined in her small fingers.
I started having yearly mammograms at 36 without issue. I didn't dread the procedure and didn't think much about it after receiving the "all clear" results. Until I didn't. I was 44, the kids were at school, and I was busy being a working mom when I got the call that they saw "something" and I needed to return for further imaging. That's when everything fell apart. I felt hot, nauseous, panicked, petrified.
Even though I was repeatedly reassured it was probably "nothing," I felt like I needed to be prepared for it being "something". I was right. It was. I felt a bit of relief with the diagnosis because it was early and small, highly treatable, and had an excellent prognosis. I chose to have a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction a week after Christmas. At first I felt empowered and determined. Until the anxiety starting creeping in and I felt doomed and dying. I couldn't hear the good things the clinicians were telling me, how well I was doing, how healthy I was, how I was okay.
During this time, my wonderful husband, family and friends were amazingly supported. I knew I was lucky to have them, good insurance, clear margins. I was permitted to return to normal activities, except nothing felt normal. There was a 3 ring circus in my head that never stopped and I gave new meaning to the phrase "fake it till you make it".
Then I met Jodi. She understood. She listened. She reflected. She reframed. She gave me hope. And then I found a purpose. Vibe is that purpose, and I wouldn't build this community with anyone else. My love and admiration for the person and professional she is are endless.
It's hard to believe I've lived through 17 Octobers as a breast cancer survivor. As I write this, I'm still scared to call myself a survivor. But I am comfortable calling myself a thriver. Because I am! I'm happy, healthy, passionate, and motivated to always be the person who turns around and gives my hand to those that are coming after me. Just like Jodi did for me, along with countless other fantastic people.
For those still on the journey or who find themselves on this path in the future, I'm holding out my hand and giving you a soft embrace. I'm praying you find the thing that gives you purpose and allows you to live fully. I'm so grateful to be here.
Thank you for allowing me to do this for you.
