Breast Cancer Awarness

Yesterday while I was cleaning my mother's house I came across a book that my Grandmother had written. The book has finally been published! My first reaction was to call my mother at work demanding to know where my copy was. Then as I was looking over my mother's copy I began to cry because the realization came to me that my children will never truly know this special woman. She is currently living albeit against her will. She is in horrible pain every day with her back compressing (she is shrinking) and just being old. I wish to tell you about this woman who survived all odds back when Breast Cancer didn't leave survivors.

Her name is Dorothy Hebertson. She was born in 1924 so she grew up during the depression and understands "hard times". She met and married my grandfather Keith Hebertson just before World War 2 (i believe). My Grandfather was enlisted in the Army (along with the rest of the men in this country) and was a "forward observer" for General Patton. His life expectancy was literally 3 seconds due to snipers. He was also among the first soldiers to open the concentration camp and release the prisoners. He was an amazing man who passed away in August of 1995. Keith and Dorothy had 5 children, my mother was #3. Shortly after #5 was born Dorothy was told that she had breast cancer, she was 37 years old. Thus began a 10 year battle against a disease that was somewhat unknown especially on how to treat. During these 10 years she not only raised her 5 children but her brother's 3 children as well. As her cancer fight was drawing to what seemed to be an unhappy end she opted for a relatively new procedure know now as a Mastectomy. She had a double mastectomy in order to remove all of the cancer and anything that could possibly ever bring the cancer back. She was finally cancer free at the age of 48.

Two years ago a cousin of mine was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. She is a mother of 4 adorable children who at the time were very young. They ranged in ages of 6 years to 8 month old twins. She also opted for a double mastectomy and a round a chemo to follow. She is now cancer free as well.

My mother found her first lump when I was 5 years old. It turned out to be non cancerous but I will never forget the scare we all felt and my mother's recovery from having the lump removed. These are my first memories that I can recall from my childhood. Then when I was 18 and home from college visiting for Thanksgiving, I had to sign for a certified letter. I called my mom at work and read her the results from her mammogram and once again they had found a lump. My heart literally sank at the thought that my mother would have to fight to live. Thankfully it turned out to be non cancerous again and was successfully removed with surgery. I come from a long line of breast cancer survivors and I'm proud to say that it has yet to claim any of the women in my family and my heart goes out to those families that haven't been so fortunate.

My grandmother has survived so much in life and has still found the time to write a book full of her "Wise counsel and endless suggestions" as a parenting guide dedicated to helping her 14 grandchildren raise her 30 great grandchildren! To this I thank her as well as for all those days and nights that she helped me "endure to the end". I Love You!