Upstate/Downstate

Rocking my shirt XO Downstate AM

WEGO Health Day 25….We don’t stop learning when we leave the classroom. Share something you learned from another Health Activist (Share their name/blog/website!).

I met downstate Anne Marie when I was searching for blogs to help me with my diagnosis. I hit on Chemobrain . When I found her I was so excited, her name was Anne Mare (ok I will give her the “e”). I never really loved my name I wanted to be Tracy, Tammy, Shelley-yes I wanted a “Y”!! So I have this thing with Anne Maries:), they make me happy. Plus, she was a New Yorker.
We chatted away and had a lot in common. We talked not just about our stupid dumb breast cancer but our heritage too. Grandmothers, mothers, and friends! It was a great connection, Then she said “I want to talk to you about Komen”. My gut sank, ugh she is a Komen hater and I am a Komen lover, looks like this friendship is over. I watched her tweet about the reason, blog about it and every time I cringed a little. Here is the thing we talked it out yes but she did not hold our differences against our friendship. Instead she said what she wanted and I said my peace. That was it. The thing is she taught me to check the grassroots groups. I hesitated at first but then found Cancer Connects.

Had Anne Marie not taught me about these smaller groups I never would have looked into Cancer Connects. I am so happy she did. I am proud to their fund raising princess. They are here for cancer patients when insurance isn't. They provide not only mentoring but therapy that eases the journey just a little. I can not want to for the Kick it to Cancer event that is the start of this beautiful relationship!

So thank you Downstate AM, had you not given me your thoughts I would never have found such a wonderful group to work with! Thanks for teaching me to think bigger yet look to the smaller groups.