Breast cancer is a disease that has impacted the lives of so many of us in one way or another. Sometimes the outcome is difficult to bear and sometimes the outcome is miraculous. I want to share a story of a neighbor, who became a close friend, that actually has a happy and inspirational ending.

About a year ago, a neighbor of mine was sharing with me how she was helping her neighbor across the street who has stage 4 breast cancer. I was shocked to find out that this woman was enduring chemotheraphy sessions, battling this disease, and trying to care for her then 2 year old. Her husband traveled often 2 to 3 weeks at a time, so she was left home alone to maintain her home, care for herself, care for her child, and get to and from the many doctor’s appointments.

She was new here and didn’t have many friends yet. She and her husband had moved here from Romania. Her family was still in Romania and unable to help her much because they own a shop and couldn’t leave it unattended. Her husband had some family here, but they basically shunned her because their religious beliefs prevented them from supporting her decision to receive medical care.

Upon hearing about her breast cancer, I asked several other neighbors and fellow moms if we could work out a schedule to provide a rotating meal service to her. We introduced ourselves to her and told her that we were here to help her in any way she needed. So, we began providing meal service, we took turns taking care of her daughter, and 2 moms took turns transporting her to and from doctor’s appointments.

Soon after meeting her, she underwent a double mastectomy. What an incredibly painful and debilitating surgery! Obviously I don’t know first hand, but watching her battle cancer while recovering from an intense surgery showed me just how much strength and courage it takes to keep positive and keep one foot moving in front of the other. However, breast cancer was not done with her yet.

During her recovery, she continued to take chemotherapy treatments. I’ve never seen someone so sick and so weak actually manage to still be alive and breathing. There were many times that I doubted her body’s ability to pull through, but I never doubted her will to live. She was so angry at her breast cancer that she refused to let it beat her. One final blow was the discovery that the cancer had spread and she would need a complete hysterectomy. At the age of 32, this was devastating news as she had always wanted more children.

Instead of slipping into a state of depression, she channeled her frustration and anger in a very positive, therapeutic way. She had always had a passion for photography, but had let the breast cancer lead her away from something she enjoyed doing. So, she decided that despite still feeling weak and still facing another big surgery, she would buy herself a new camera lens, begin taking pictures of all things beautiful, then try to make a business out of it. She created Oh So Posh Photography and, due to her incredible talent, has been very successful.

You could see a bright light from within as she continued to fight off her breast cancer. This was the exact therapy she needed. In September, her father flew in from Romania to help her while she had her hysterectomy. Great news soon followed her latest surgery, her cancer was in remission and the doctor’s were hopeful that she had finally beaten this horrible disease.

Life seemed to be returning to a new normal. Just before Christmas, she received some devastating news from Romania. Her father who had seen her through her surgery suddenly died due to an upper respiratory illness. Unfortunately, the medical care he received in his country was not adequate enough to help him overcome what was basically a cold. After all that she had been through and overcome, it was such a terrible blow and has been struggling to come to terms with the situation. However, she said how fortunate she feels that he had been with her just a couple months before and she took some really amazing photos of him with her daughter, his granddaughter. At the time, she did not know these would be the last photographs she would ever take of him.

I personally am amazed by her neverending strength. You never know when you will meet that one person that you so admire and look up to. I’m so grateful to have met her and come to know her well. She is a true inspiration to all breast cancer survivors and sufferers. Take the time to get to know your neighbors because inspiration may just be waiting behind your neighbor’s door.

Tags | breast cancer, breast cancer survivor, breast cancer treatment