DuPont does Pink! Breast Cancer Awareness

Thank you for visiting Chico, CA, and the horse we've grown to love. Draped in pink, Du Pont helps raise awareness about breast cancer. He's a winner, always doing the town proud.

I'm displaying these photos for Sundays in My City, hosted by a warm-hearted wonder, UnknownMami. And they tie-in with my Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway. I'll announce the winner Monday. For now, here are some stories of courage, strength, tragic loss, love, faith, and perseverance. Thank you to everyone who commented. There's still time to share a story if you'd like. I appreciate it, and I'm sure many others do too.

I'd like to ask a favor: Please lend support (and prayer, if you're so inclined) to our dear blog friend, Mike Swift, as his twin sister, Michele/Shelly, is gearing up for a lengthy, grueling battle with breast cancer. We're here for you, Mike and Shelly! 
************************************************************
Debra She Who Seeks said...I'd like to nominate my friend Elaine who is currently battling breast cancer. She is having her radiation treatments now. The chemo made her quite sick and landed her in hospital a couple of times. But Elaine has been a real trooper throughout. We all hope for a successful resolution and a long life ahead for her!
************************************************************
Daisy said...An aunt of mine struggled with fighting breast cancer. So far she is winning the battle as it seems that it was diagnosed early enough that it could be taken care of.
************************************************************
Julie Luek said...Four years ago three of my college pals and I started getting together. Now in our mid-40s, our kids almost grown, we drew together, reunited, laughing like the school girls we once were. Our reunion after all these years, was motivated by the breast cancer diagnosis of one of us, Joan. Every year after, once a year, we got together, as Joan bravely fought. We shed tears over her fears-- not seeing her children graduate college, get married or meet her grandchildren.
Last August (2012) was our last reunion. Joan slipped from our world that October. To all the kids she touched in her life of teaching, to her family and to us, her lifelong friends, it is a loss we still mourn. Here's to the awareness and hope for the future.  
*************************************************************
Theresa said...My paternal grandmother lost the fight against breast cancer. I really wish I would have had the chance to have met her. I hear she was a great lady, one with a really big heart.
*************************************************************
JoJo said...I'd like to nominate my friend Jaime, who discovered a hot mass under her breast in 2008, at the age of 29. It was breast cancer and she went through hell with all of the treatments, radiation, chemo, etc. She lost her beautiful red hair, but she soldiered on. She named the lump Tumora and decided to adopt a warrior attitude toward defeating it. All that time, she refused to give up and refused to be 'poor me'. She's now cancer free.
*************************************************************
Cheryl said…My walking partner is a breast cancer survivor. Sally was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was just 28 years old and had to have a bilateral mastectomy. She has been cancer free for many years.
*************************************************************
Tammy said...Well, breast cancer has touched those close to me quite a few times. It killed my maternal grandmother as a young woman and my paternal grandmother was a survivor. A Coworker died young leaving a two-year old son behind. But my hero award goes to my great friend Carol who has twice fought and beaten breast cancer with a positive attitude and incredible resoluteness. She is someone who appreciates life’s many adventures and gives so much.
**************************************************************
Susan Flett Swiderski said...Yes, men can definitely get breast cancer. My brother did, and he was only in his thirties at the time. Unfortunately, I know way too many people who've fought and lost a battle with breast cancer. I'd like to nominate my life-long friend Caryl, who won her fight, in spite of being told by her doctor that she was a goner at one point.
**************************************************************
Empty Nest Insider said...I know that you lost your mom at a young age to cancer. We lost our cousin several years ago to breast cancer. She left behind two small boys who were only two and four years old.
**************************************************************
Ruth said...Sadly, I know too many people that have had it. Cancer rates are fairly high in my area. A former classmate of my husband, Cindy, had it twice. She is a teacher and had to drive up to Des Moines every day for chemo for 7 weeks. She is one of the sweetest people I know.
**************************************************************
M.L. Swift said...It comes at a difficult period in the lives of this household.
A month ago, my twin sister (Michele/Shelly) went in for her yearly mammo and found out she had BC. They noticed this spot last year, but "weren't concerned," and didn't biopsy, although they did biopsy another area that proved to be calcification. We figured the other (you know, the one they weren't worried about!) was the same
In this year's mammo, it had changed. A biopsy proved it to be what's known as Triple Negative BC, and is pretty serious. These past few weeks have seen many doctor's appointments: surgeon, oncologist, MRI's, an upcoming PET scan, and the like.
So sis will need a double mastectomy. The cancer is close to the chest wall and has affected the nodes...scary shit. Almost six months of chemo will precede the surgery so they can shrink it first and get it more away from the chest wall. Nodes will be coming out.
Both of us are scared, but putting it in God's hands (it just dawned on me—that sounds like God is copping a feel from my sis).
This came to light a mere three months after Mom passed, so the reality of sis's mortality is staring us both in the face. Please keep her in your prayers.
My aunt, a survivor, is doing well and has been lifting her up with hope and prayer.
**************************************************************
Momma Fargo said...My mother survived breast cancer and I am very proud of her.