Courage in Others brought Strength to Me!

During the waiting, the many doctors visits, the biopsies, the decisions, and the stress life seemed unbearable.  The what ifs take over your life.  I got to a point where while everyone thought I was holding up well...I truly was not.  I was depressed!  I couldn't function, I stayed in bed, I stayed in my jammies, and the what ifs took over.

My kids were so young! Kayla was in pre-K she was 4 years old.  I grew up with out a mom for many years, what if I wasn't there for prom?  For her first boyfriend, for her wedding, her first child!  My son Justin was in 2nd grade and was 7 years old.  He was momma's boy!  He took it so hard right away, he hated me even leaving the room. what if I didn't make it?  And Patrick my husband!  We had not been married a year!  The two of us had an up and down relationship for years and we finally figured out that we were meant to be and we were married.  He had just lost his dad to cancer.  Life could not be so cruel that it could take me from my life, my husband, and my kids. 

During this time period there was an inspirational story in our local paper about a young mother just a few years older than me with a toddler son, who had breast cancer, while pregnant!  OMG!  If this woman could go through this while pregnant I could build up the courage and I could do it!  If this baby could come out of this okay so could I! 

This woman's name was Erica, she became my hero and I had never meet her, so did her beautiful daughter! 

A few months later I meet my hero!  It was like meeting a super star!  I meet that beautiful little girl as well, she was so healthy and so beautiful just like her courageous mother!  I never told her she was my hero till 4 years later when she heard me speak.  We became friends and she became my support through so much!  But if there wasn't that story in the paper I don't know if I would have had the courage I had!