October is awareness month for so many causes that are near and dear to me: AAC, infant and pregnancy loss, and breast cancer awareness.
Let’s start with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
I wasn’t going to share this, but I hope that it will be a good reminder to someone out there.
In the last two years, I really let myself go. I stopped taking care of myself. My sole purpose in life was getting Colin the help he needed. Making sure that Finley gets to live a “normal” life. Working to help make money. Keep our household running (and semi-clean). Advocating and educating – you know, “changing the world.”
I forgot to take care of me.
Now, I’m not talking the random “spa day,” or “girls night out.” Those are important too, but I mean the BIG stuff. Like keeping up with my own doctor appointments. This was just something that I put off and didn’t take the time to do. I had more important things to do, like take care of my kids.
Then I was diagnosed with guttate psoriasis. It’s an auto immune disease, and it’s the most un-fun thing. From February to April I was an itchy mess. I couldn’t sleep because I was so miserable. I didn’t know what I had, so I worried. It took about four different doctor appointments to finally get a diagnosis and the proper treatment. It finally cleared up with medication, and now I’m just in a “wait and see” period. Hopefully I have no more flares like that again, but I just don’t know.
I hadn’t really been to the doctor for a general checkup in years, honestly. It just wasn’t on the top of my to-do list. It kept getting pushed aside for other “more important” things. I figured, “hey, I’m young. I’m probably fine.”
Then last month, I found a lump.
I panicked because that’s never happened to me before. For two weeks, I worst-case-scenario-ed the situation:
What if it’s cancer?
Will Curtis be able to do this without me?
I want to see my kids grow up.
I can’t die, Colin needs me.
WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF COLIN IF I’M GONE?!
(The worry led to a small guttate flare, but thankfully some sun took care of it.)
I went for an ultrasound a few weeks ago, and it’s probably just a benign tumor.
NOT cancer.
Hallelujah.
I go back in six months for a follow up to check the size again.
Why do I share this?
I share this to tell you: take care of yourself. Make the appointments for yourself. Stay on top of things for yourself. Don’t let it go. Don’t put it off. Do it. Do it right now. Don’t miss something that could drastically change your life.
Because you need to be healthy and well if you want to be here for your kids. Yes, Mommin’ is the most important job you’ll ever have, but if you want to do what’s best for your kids, then you have to take care of yourself.
Schedule those appointments and get checked, yo.
1 reply on “October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month”
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