Survivor, Activist, Original Race Participant - Smelling the Roses Every Day.
I suppose Mother's Day 1991 was just like any other Mother's Day except for one thing - my only sister, my best friend had died five years earlier from metastatic breast cancer. She was only 46 years old. I had watched her die an agonizing death and I was still grieving. Looking back, I don't remember very much about that first Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure. All I can remember is feeling close to my sister that cloudy, cool Sunday morning and hoping that a cure would be found for that dreadful disease.
Then in 1998 the unspeakable happened. I, too, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation followed. I stayed in bed that Mother's Day morning and prayed for a cure.
Each Mother's Day since then, my family and I have participated in Race. Each Mother's Day I watch the crowd of walkers multiply. Each Mother's Day I watch the throng of pink survivors on the steps of The Art Museum increase. As I descend the steps each year, my eyes fill with tears because I am a survivor. Each Mother's Day we come closer to finding a cure for this horrendous disease that took the life of my beautiful sister so many years ago.
Last year I became actively involved with the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate. I am co-chair of the “Pretty In Pig” project which raises money to support the breast cancer movement. I suppose, for me this is a way to give back and a way to continue to fight until a cure for breast cancer is found.
For me, I now live my life by one single motto, “Don't forget to smell the roses every day...”
Susan E. Hyman