Being a health activist means everything to me. My family and friends may not understand my passion but God does. When I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer I prayed and I prayed hard. With a young daughter who was only 7 at the time I was scared. Not so much scared for myself and what would become of my life but scared that she would grow up without her Mommy. I fought hard during my pregnancy to keep her and couldn't fathom leaving her now so I prayed.
The doctors didn't seem to give me much hope since the prognosis for those with triple negative breast cancer wasn't good...so I PRAYED!
I was very specific with God but knew I had to leave it in his hands. I have always known I was a child of God and always knew he was there for me. Even up to this point my life had not been easy but I always turned to prayer. Praying gave me peace during this time. I prayed and asked God that if kept me here in this world to raise my daughter that I would use my life for good. I would live with and for a purpose and not to just exist for selfish reasons. I promised I would create a legacy that he and my family would be proud of. I asked for a specific number of years to achieve this but confessed he would have to guide me because I was clueless on what my purpose was. Up to this point I believed that I was a good person and lived a full life while helping others but my purpose was solely a selfish one.
Over and over as surgeries and chemo went by I prayed. The same prayer every night. As time went on God began to show my purpose to me and I felt at ease that I would be sparred. Each day I got stronger and a passionate fire to help others around me grew. It wasn't clear at first but I knew I wanted to use my situation to teach and inspire others. To give them strength to continue living no matter the suffering, no matter how dark the days looked. So everyday... no matter my pain, no matter how I was feeling I got up, got dressed, put on my heels and lipstick and pushed forward.
"Fighting like a girl, in lipstick and heels...always heels."
Eventually I got a spring in my step and my smile returned. I could even joked about all the cancer crap I was going through. I still think I should get a half price mammogram after my mastectomy.... I continued to work, volunteer, and to be a great Mom. Sometimes I wanted to throw in the towel. Sometimes I didn't even know how the hell I made it through the day but I did and I was pushing forward. Even when test results came back and the news was bad and the cancer returned I kept pushing. Even when friends and family were sick of hearing about my cancer and some even doubted if I still had it or was I just looking for attention I pushed forward. Even when I was criticized and judged for using holistic methods to survive and thrive I pushed forward. When I felt alone, unloved, scared, and tired...I pushed forward. I was doing it my way with God's help.
When asked what the hell I was doing...? I always replied "Fighting like a girl, in lipstick and heels...always heels."
I eventually came to realize my journey, I had become a health activist. What first started out as a promise and prayer to God and a young Mom scrambling to live became the purpose of MY LIFE. I had become a health activist, helping all kinds of conditions through awareness and advocacy, speaking and writing, and even taking on health insurance companies, eventually becoming licensed to help others obtain and keep their health insurance policies.
The last two years have been about educating the public on the Affordable Care Act and how it affects them. But I also still maintain a full schedule of advocating for many health related issues including how to live a healthy lifestyle. I am active in health related events and advocacy in my community, nationally, and even globally. I even actively recruit those who love me to join in on my passions. It will never make me rich in material goods but it has made my soul richer than I could have ever asked for. God has blessed me with life and purpose.
I wasn't supposed to live more than five years but it has been nine and I love being a health activist each and everyday so if I could do anything it would be to have at least 30 more years even with cancer to inspire others to live healthy and happy no matter what their condition is.
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