BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

Personal reflection from Charlie Sullivan:

"It's hard to fully describe and quantify the impact that cancer has on its victims and their loved ones. I was 5 years old and in Kindergarten when my Mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. My Mom never used the ‘C’ word when we talked. She has since told me that the word ‘cancer’ scared her so much that she wanted to shield me from that fear. 

I remember my Mom always trying to make everything seem normal for me. No matter how sick she was from chemo, every morning she did her makeup, popped on her wig, rounded me and the neighborhood kids up, and got us to school on time. She did the same thing every afternoon; picking all of us up from school and taking us to the corner store for our daily treat. Another thing my Mom did was make my lunch for school and never once did she forget to put a note in my lunchbox. One of my favorite memories of my Mom and me was our routine of reading a bedtime story every night then I would ask her to tell me one of her favorite times from her childhood; I don’t think I ever heard the same memory twice! A funny thing I remember is we have a photo of every family member wearing my Mom’s wig, even my Granpa (that’s how he spelled his ‘name’)!

This experience enabled me to provide comfort and support to my Grandmother when she was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time years after my Mom’s illness. By then, I was older, more knowledgeable, and could be part of her support system.

While I'd never want my Mom to endure this again, it's also true that there are always silver linings if you look for them. I grew even closer to my Mom, a bond that has never wavered, and she taught me how levity, prayer, positivity, laughter, hope, and humor were critical to our healing. I know that my Mom and I were each other’s salvation.

Today I own and manage a successful landscaping business. My Mom and Grandmother have taught me the true meaning of tenacity, never to give up, and anything is possible. These traits are so valued by myself that I have implemented them into my business along with hard work, determination, and being the best version of myself. The sky is the limit for all of us!

I hope my words will find their way to someone who has been diagnosed with cancer or any other illness, their children, a family member, or a friend. Whoever said ‘Laughter is the best Medicine’ was 100% correct."