Team Cookie: Year 4.

Welp...here's that post I was talking about yesterday. It's lengthy! :)

October=Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

I mentioned yesterday that my mom, sister, aunt, cousin and second cousin head to DSM for the Susan G. Komen Race For the Cure every October. We are headed into our 4th year celebrating!

A little background...

Our team name, "Team Cookie", came from my grandma (mom and aunts mom). Her nickname was Cookie (Grandma Cookie to some of us). My grandma had been having back pain for sometime before heading to the doctor. When she was there, she told him she felt a lump in her breast and he did a biopsy. It was cancer. After she healed from surgery, she was to start chemo...but they discovered that the pain in her back was actually bone cancer. The breast cancer had spread to the bones. They decided the chemo would not cure her and would be hard on her. From there...my grandma chose not to go through with the chemo. So we call ourselves Team Cookie in her honor. (As well as honoring those who have fought or are fighting.)

Year 1:

Andrea, mom, and I (Sup red/brown hair?!)

My mom and aunt Cindy...these two together = side cramps all around from laughing so hard!

It's so amazing to see all of the people, just in Iowa alone, that come out to support the fight!

Year 2:

**The story between year 2 & 3**

I don't know exactly what to say here...I don't know who to say said or did what. It's such a blur. I remember at RFTC Year 2 that my sister had told my mom that if she went for a mammogram, that my sister would up her 401k. Something along the lines of that. So, like that my mom went, of course. 

I remember barely being able to keep my eyes open while I was at my college internship one Saturday morning, helping set up for an event that afternoon/evening. I was so busy running around I didn't get a chance to look at my phone for along period of time. Shocker I KNOW! I saw that my mom called a couple times. It didn't dawn on me quite yet...I was busy, I could call her later. She had text me, which I somehow found time to text her back. She asked me what I was doing...I explained...she said to call when I had time. Usually, when this happened, it was something about my bank account. 

I snuck away to the executive board room...like one with a big wooden table and huge leather chairs. Got comfortable in one of those magnificent chairs...and dialed my mom. She seemed fine, her normal, calm self. Until she asked what I was doing that night, which I had to work at the restaurant I was employed at—busy day. She was sympathetic to my schedule that day. Not normal. That's when her voice started to get a little shaky and she had said that she was on the phone with my sister when I called her back. She had news. She had breast cancer. 

She went into detail a little bit, but I can't remember much. It was one of those life moments when your brain is stuck on one thing that someone said and you don't continue to listen...everything gets muffled. I contained myself as much as possible while on the phone with her. She was certainly impressed, as was I. 

I went back into my office where my supervisor was busting her butt to get our project done and I sat down and began to sob. I don't know what made me break like that...the fact that if my sister wouldn't have gave my mom the challenge to go to the doctor it may not have been caught as early as it was, the fight I knew my mom had ahead of her, or that I was unsure of what just happened. All three? Probably... 

My mom had her surgery, went through radiation...which about killed me to hear about and see what it did to her skin. And a few months later, it was safe to say that my mom was cancer free. 

When you're someone's kid, I don't think you think about ever being proud of your parents for things they do. You always hear about parents being proud of their kids. That's not the case here...I am so proud of my mom for the obstacles she had to face and overcame. She had much more to go through after being cancer-free. But that, in itself, is something to be proud of. She fought and won. I'm, also, proud of her for her courage. You wouldn't know the gal was going through anything if you talked to her. Even though she was exhausted, I never heard her complain.

My sister and I are so thankful for friends, coworkers, and family—especially aunt Cindy, my mom's sister, for everything they did. The cards, calls, visits were so thoughtful, and I know my mom will be forever grateful for everything. 

And so...

Year 3:

Mom going through the "Survivors Chute" 

You can imagine how hard it was to keep a poker face at this moment for our team!

[Obviously] Someone very important congratulating the survivors.

The family!

Mom and her girls.

And so here we are...about to head into our 4th year of the race. Our theme this year is Think Pink. I will post pictures at the end of October of our fun-filled weekend!

Until then...I encourage you to support the fight and Race for the Cure.