My Pink Ribbons
My Pink Ribbons
Written by Marissa Johnson
Hope wants to be a professional ballerina when she grows up, just like her mom. In fact, there is only one thing in the world that eight-year-old Hope loves more than dancing, and that’s her mom. Hope knows how fortunate she is to have her mom too, because she had breast cancer before Hope was born. Hope knows cancer is a big word, so what exactly does having breast cancer mean?
With a little help from her loved ones, Hope learns just what exactly cancer is, how her mom fought it, and how to be brave despite health challenges. As the annual dance recital approaches, Hope is inspired to do something special and show her mom just how much she loves her. A breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, especially for young children. But as Hope teaches us, learning how to understand and cope with breast cancer through knowledge, treatment, and support proves that women can overcome anything. In the face of adversity, it always helps to have hope.
My Story
When I was 11, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. At that same time, her own mother (my grandmother) was placed on hospice due to the same disease. This was a strange and uncertain time not only for me but my entire family. While undergoing chemotherapy treatments and attending countless doctor appointments, my mother was also somehow making regular visits to my grandmother, taking me to dance class, and getting dinner on the table.
Though my grandmother unfortunately passed away, my mom has been cancer free for over ten years. To see the two strongest and most prominent women in my life battle the same disease had a profound impact on me, and now, I am finally able to share their story and contribute to the fight against breast cancer.
