We never really think we will become a statistic. We hear about stats so often but somehow a deeply ingrained sense of denial allows us to breeze through our days thinking it’ll never happen to us. It might happen to her, or her, or maybe even her, but probably not us. Until... it does. Until you get the call, the diagnosis, the overwhelming and all-consuming information about something precarious happening in your body. A year ago today I received the call from my obstetrician informing me that my biopsy came back positive for breast cancer: invasive lobular carcinoma. A bilateral mastectomy, CHEK2 gene mutation, countless CT scans, 5 weeks of daily radiation, 2 bouts of esophagitis, daily medication for 10+ years, a relationship with an oncologist for life, and a 12 hour diep flap reconstructive surgery and months of recovery later, and all I can say is: I am here. Still here. In awe of the whiplash of it all and the way we rise when there’s no other choice. I am here. #ihadamiscarriage #breastcancer #diepflap #grief #loss #chek2 #breastcancerawareness