Cheryl

by Cheryl Thompson
(Rochester, New York)

My daughter Shontia Charnelle Slade was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. Although we were told then that life expectancy would be 5 years; we held out hope that we would beat this horrific disease. Unfortunately in July of 2008 this hideous disease returned and metastisized and 2 weeks and 1 day after her 30th birthday she passed away. The feelings that you go through as a parent losing a child is immeasureable........I could never imagine anything hurting as much as the pain that I have experienced over the past 2 years. The pain is so great at times that I have to literally catch my breath somedays in order to move forward.

However, I have the hope of the resurrection according to Acts 24:15 and that hope is so real to me until this is what has gotten me through these past two years. I know that seeing her suffer is something that I will never forget.....we truly believed that maybe-just maybe we might beat this......I am also an advocate for mammograms even before the age of 40. I truly believe that young girls/women should be properly taught how to feel for lumps, bumps, or anything else in your breast(s) that don't feel right. When in doubt-check it out! I am so glad to know that this site is available and I can talk with others who have endured one of the most painful losses in mankind's history.............