A few weeks ago marked the five-year anniversary of my breast amputation. My youngest child, Isaiah, was four when I had that surgery. I did not talk about the anniversary with my kids, or with anyone. I quietly honored it this year on my own.

But the week of the anniversary, as I was tucking Isaiah in, we reflected on his day at school. He shared with me that he took “Mama Bear” as one of his three items to share about himself...

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 at the age of 37, I had no close friends who had been through cancer treatment. I felt alone. I felt like nobody on earth could know how I felt. 

My friends are amazing, and, yet, they could not relate to what I was going through. Nobody can unless they go through it themselves or walk the treatment path with a close loved one.   Creating my own breast cancer support group...