A woman is like a yellow rose. She is naturally bright, vibrant and captivating. But she is also strong and resilient like the thorns on a rose, which are made to endure in the face of adversity.
Strong women are all around us, and sometimes we are so distracted by their beauty that we don’t see the battles they are fighting beneath the surface.
More than 331,530 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, according to breastcancer.org. With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I think it’s an important time to recognize and honor the brave women who have been affected by this disease, women like my grandma, Herminia Garcia, who were lucky enough to have a survivor’s story for me to share today.
My grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 and ended her treatments in 2008. At the time, I was just a child and didn’t understand the severity of my abuela’s situation. Now that I’m older, I know this was completely intentional.
When the doctor called to give her the diagnosis, my mother answered the phone and immediately started bawling. However, my grandma never shed a tear. She had faith in God’s plan and reassured my mom that everything would be OK. From the very beginning, she believed she would be able to fight this disease.
She never called cancer by its name, because to her, giving the disease a name gave it power. She always called it “mi proceso,” which is Spanish for “my process.” There was no moping around or feeling sorry for herself. She didn’t have the time because she always kept busy.
During this time, we went out a lot, always laughing and shopping. My grandma loves shopping and wasn’t going to let cancer cramp her style. My grandma’s nickname in the family is “La Lady” and she stands by that title by demonstrating and handling even the toughest of situations with the utmost grace and poise.
My grandma has always been a beautiful woman inside and out. In the pictures I’ve seen of her when she was a young girl, she had the longest hair. So, when she started her chemo treatments, it wasn’t easy for her. Even as she lost her hair, she persevered and didn’t allow herself to get discouraged.
In 2008, she was cancer free, and has been in remission for 11 years.
She is my hero, my role model and has always taught me to be strong. She leads by example and has taught me so much. She is the glue that holds our family together, and I admire her for her selflessness, valor and grace. I love her for all that she is and cherish every laugh and smile I’m able to witness.
I encourage anyone with a loved one who had or is currently battling breast cancer to take the time to honor and support them throughout their journey.
For more information about breast cancer awareness or to find out how to donate, visit nationalbreastcancer.org. During breast cancer awareness month, donations will help provide a mammogram for a woman in need.
