Walk for the Cure

I walked in an amazing event this weekend, "The Race For the Cure". It was truly brilliant and extremely inspiring and it really made me stop and think of my life and how blessed I am to have such a good one. It was held a Qwest Field (Where the Seattle Seahawks Play) and there were thousands of people in attendance, in fact it took us 1.5hrs to walk 3.5 miles because the amount of people walking. Some of the more memorable team names were:

1. SAVE THE TA TA's
2. THE ITTY BITTY TITTY COMMITTEE
3. THANKS FOR THE MAMMORIES
4. BABES FOR BOOBS
5. WALKERS FOR KNOCKERS (My personal favorite)

As I looked around the stadium on Saturday I could see many women who had on the pink survivor's t-shirt and thought that could be me. I couldn't help but think about my life and it's value and what I have done to truly make a contribution in my children's life and what they would remember most about me if I were gone. Now that I am working again I feel that I don't get to contribute as much time to them as I would like and it breaks my heart to know that I could have done more when I stayed home. My plan is to only work part-time when Jenson starts middle school and Sophie starts Kindergarten. I just feel this overwhelming need to be there then.

When I walked into the facility before the race I went to the booth and picked up my shirt flag that stated that I was walking in memory of my grandmother. She lost her battle with breast cancer when I was 14 and to this day I still remember the struggles and her courageous fight to live. As I was safety pinning the flag to my shirt I couldn't help but become emotional. As my eyes welled with tears I said a prayer for all those who have had breast cancer and for those who will have breast cancer. I don't completely know my family history as my grandmother was adopted, but I can only pray that I am spared that burden to bear.

Two weeks ago I found a lump in my right breast. I am sure that it is nothing, just a cyst, but I can't help but think about the "what if's" and being at the walk this Saturday really brought those feeling to the surface. Because I am under 40 I have to have both an ultrasound and a mammogram next Monday. I am not looking forward to the appointment, but I know that it is something I must do and I have a feeling everything is going to be okay. If the news is not as positive as I expect it to be I will be quite shocked.

As I leave for today I just ask that throughout this week you say a prayer for all the haves and the have nots and maybe just maybe we will find a cure.