Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The early goal of Breast Cancer Awareness Month was to educate women about breast cancer and early detection. During the month of October, breast cancer survivors and those with breast cancer are celebrated and encouraged to tell their stories.

Mildred Naomi Heller Fox - Gma Fox, passed away from breast cancer two years after Breast Cancer Awareness Month was launched - Feb 1987. She had a double mastectomy. Later, the cancer metastasized in her brain. For whatever reason, this year during this month, Gma has been on mind...a lot.

One time, she showed me the scars from her surgery and her ‘bosum buddies’ she placed in her bra. That has never left my mind. It’s too bad all the awareness didn’t happen earlier. Maybe, just maybe she would have lived longer or had a better quality of life.

Who remembers the time the siblings squished into the Chevrolet Caprice with Dad and Mom to visit Grandma in the hospital? Aunt Bonnie had called to say the Dr said her time was short. We laughed and cried and laughed and cried some more on our way to Harrisburg PA. Her breathing was deep and far apart. Each breath seemed as if it was her l

ast. She was mostly incoherent with moments of clarity.

Dad spoke close to her ear, telling her it was okay to go. He asked her if she ‘saw’ anyone. ‘Do you see Dad?!’ ‘Yes, I see him. He’s so beautiful,’ she whispered. Grandpa Fox had passed away almost 30 years before. Her people were coming for her. Years later, she would be one of Papa’s people who came to ‘get him.’

With all the ups and downs of that day, she did not pass away. Actually, she rallied for a few months. Turns out her sister Gracie told her, ‘Don’t you dare leave me!’ Oh how Grandma loved her sisters - Grace and Gertrude.