Heather and Matt
Can I just tell you how proud I am of my baby sister right now!! Well…I am going to do just that! This is a pic of her from last year’s Tour de Pink. For her five year “cancerversary” she decided to celebrate by doing a 230 mile/3 day bike ride to help raise money for YSC. (Young Survival Coalition) And of course…Matt did it with her. Heather is not a regular bike rider (or should I say she wasn’t before this!) and this isn’t on flat terrain like in Oklahoma… This starts off in Hershey, Pennsylvania and goes all the way to New York City!!
The ride starts in Hershey because Hersheys is the largest contributor to YSC. YSC is a national organization that helps women under 40 going through breast cancer. When Heather was diagnosed she was only 28. She went to some wonderful support groups at first. But she began to notice that although they were going through the same disease….many of these women were at different stages in their lives. Therefore, the hopes and dreams of having more children and the question of how will my treatment affect that….just didn’t worry women who were in their 60s and had already had their families. As Heather said…she gained a lot of wisdom from these older women…but at the same time needed to be surrounded by more who knew a little more about how she was feeling. Since there was not a group like that in or near Tulsa, my sister (being the wonderful woman she is) decided to begin an affiliate of the YSC in Tulsa. She is the main contact for them and now helps tons of young women go through their own battles!
They ride into New York City because that is where the National Headquarters for YSC is located. This morning I got to see my sister on National news! FOX news! She was on the front row smiling with tears running down her face as her friends husband accepted a check for his daughter from Hersheys. You see, her mother died, at 44, from her second battle with this horrible disease. I sat in my living room with a smile and tears holding my kids as I watched her…with pride swelling from me for how she has accepted this trial God has given her!
Heather has seen many young women die from breast cancer. She herself has survived 6 1/2 years since her own diagnosis. She is what I consider the best advocate these young women have. She speaks at all kinds of events to raise awareness. She sits on the Dept. of Defense and Komen Panels to help decide where to spend research dollars. She speaks at the capitol and does so much for this cause. She spends countless hours, unpaid, putting together info packets, sitting with scared patients at their first round of chemo, or just doing research. She prays fervently for all afftected …. and for a cure.
She and I were at our mother’s bed when mom took her last breath. That is something we will never forget. I was in 5th grade when mom fought her first battle. Heather was only two. She doesn’t have the memories I have of mom fighting. Then, watching Heather go through so much like mom did, the memories came flooding back. I tried to not let on….but I was terrified. I just hated that I couldn’t do anything to help my baby sister. It made me sick.
Well, we are on the good side of this disease right now. Although Heather and I both carry the gene…and have had to endure too much…we press on. SHE presses on! She has said that she isn’t glad God gave her breast cancer….but she is glad He gave her this ministry. That is truly what it is for her…..a ministry. I used to be jealous of it…… hate to say it..but it is true. I would tell her…It’s not fair…you can see a young woman with no hair and wearing a pink ribbon and have an instant connection…an instant ministry. And she is sooooooooo good at it. She can walk up to anyone and start a conversation and have them laughing and crying at the same time! And I know those individuals are thankful to have Heather now in their lives. With my story….well….you just can’t spot people who have been what I’ve been through. And honestly, the times I’ve reached out to those who have had the same type of tragedy happen…well…they just don’t want to hear that God is good and life goes on……not yet. And I get that.
What I have learned is people just need to hear that it is ok to not like what God has given us. But that there is hope after difficult times and that with Him…..not only can you get through it….but maybe…..just possibly……you can help a TON of people on the other side of it…if you just step out….and share it!
Take a page from my sister’s book. She didn’t ask for this….didn’t want it. But she walked through it with grace, and faith and is now helping countless women……including ones like me……go through their journey. Praise God for women like Heather Cobb! I love you little sis! And I believe in you too!!!
Now…..for a shameless plug. Go to http://www.ysctourdepink.org The pic of Heather and Matt is on that site…..and if you feel so inclined….you can donate in her name…..or…someone you love who has fought this battle we call breast cancer!
If you go through a time when you feel as if you’re going to be washed away, draw close to God and wait patiently on Him. Love Him enough to praise Him all the way through, no matter what the outcome. Thank Him that He is a good God, and ask Him to show you the good in your situation.
My Life as a COMMA! 