Pink for October

6 October 2008

My Blind Grandson Found My Cancer

Filed under: Breast Cancer,My Story — Tags: — shellymontgomery @ 9:56

Before I even knew I had breast cancer… I was blessed with a grandson who is blind.

When he was only a year old I would be holding him and he would lay his head or hand on my left breast (every time I held him) we laughed it off… he would never lay his head or hand on my right breast.

While he was doing this, he had sadness in him that I really didn’t understand at first, he made me feel the lump there by his actions; I would have never even checked. Well after I had the cancer removed, he stopped avoiding my right breast.

Today (he is 3 now) at the Relay for Life he was running around having fun and when it came time for the survivors to lead the walk, he asked me to hold him and would not go with anyone else! So I held him and told him he could be with me. He laid his head on my shoulder the whole walk. As we got about half way around the track they started playing “Your My Hero” and Dylan picked his head up and faced me and said “Nana your my hero” and had a tear in his eye.

Well what puzzles me is, how a 3 year old knew what this was about! To all of a sudden want me to hold and walk with him just then (we were there all day!). First of all, I really think this blind baby is gifted some how, he knew I had cancer before anyone else, and to be 3yrs old and understand what today was about, the older kids didn’t understand…

There is a lot more that has happened with this baby but these two times really freaked me out! I know I have a gifted child from God! After the walk I handed him to Papa and you can see for yourself the tears.

—Shelly Montgomery

3 October 2008

My Nana

Filed under: My Story — Tags: , — dawniemom @ 13:54

I was around 8 or 9 when my Nana started asking me to help her do everyday ordinary things. She needed me to help her in the bath tub, or sweep the floor or help making the beds. I didn’t know why, at the time, but I helped.

We lived with her & my grandfather, and I knew something was up, because normally, my Nana never asked for anyone’s help.

Eventually, my mom found out that my Nana was having difficulties and insisted she go to the doctor.  Her breast was 2-3 times its normal size, red and just not HERS.

The trip to the doctor’s office yielded scary information.  It was cancer and it had been allowed to progress for some time.  She’d have to have surgery immediately.  The year was 1976.

They had to do a mastectomy, and in 1976, there weren’t a lot of options for reconstruction.  She came home with a scar and a bra that she had to blow air into in order for it to appear to have a breast in it. 

This was so embarrassing for her, and she was always concerned that they were lopsided.  It would eventually become a joke but I remember the hurt in her face.  She’d lost an important part of herself.  But she moved on, and would go on to live another THIRTY YEARS – and face another bout with cancer (uterine) that she’d again beat. 

Both times, she had a surgery, but no chemo, no radiation.  She kicked cancer’s ASS.  She was the strongest woman I’ve ever know.  We would eventually lose her to a more insidious disease – Alzheimer’s – but she will always have that legacy in our family. 

She kicked cancer’s ASS – TWICE! My Nana.

nana tribute pic

Dawn


Powered by WordPress | Site design donated by Natalie Jost