So I have been chosen an Inspirational Survivor with a local Breast Cancer charity called the Jim and Joanie Hatcher Charitable Trust. Mr. Hatcher started this as a way to celebrate men and women battling breast cancer the disease that took his wife from him. Every year the organization would throw a luncheon for survivors celebrating another year in the fight. I received a gift bag with some pink pearls and pink pearl earrings and a photo shoot with a portrait studio. Anyone who knows me knows that I hate having my picture taken. I am not really feeling super confident yet with all my surgeries, my hair is growing back it’s a couple of inches long now but I really hate having my picture taken. What is the likelihood that the camera shy person would win a portrait package? Mine remember I have bad luck.
The only way I wanted to have my picture taken for the shoot was with my family so my husband, and all three of the kids got to partake in my prize. One part they did not know was that the portrait was going to be on display during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October for all who visited the mall to see. Great so me the camera shy one is going to be displayed in a mall that I cannot even afford to shop at, the hits keep coming.
When the exhibit at the mall was opening they had a champagne reception for the survivors and their families this was the first time that I get to see the exhibit. It turns out the lady that entered me into this contest wrote a wonderful letter about why I should be chosen for this honor. I had a chance to meet Mr. Hatcher and he was wonderful, he knew all the winners by name, he knew their stories and took the time to speak to each of us. For a man who I had never met before he treated me like we are good friends.
A sad note for this was a month before the exhibit opened the friend of mine Lynne who wrote the letter nominating me lost her fight with breast cancer. She had been diagnosed the previous December with a recurrence of stage 4 breast cancer. She went downhill very quickly with this recurrence and was not able to see the exhibit. She passed away before the exhibit opened so when I read her sweet words on display for all to see it brought tears to my eyes not for winning the award but for having someone so wonderful think that dearly of me. I did not feel like an Inspirational Survivor I feel like Lynne really deserved the award she fought with Grace, Dignity and a passion for life that was unmatched. I feel like I have a new Guardian Angel watching over me.