Today I am thinking of my friend Michelle, who tragically lost her life to breast cancer 2 years ago.
She had an adoring husband and three cool kids who she loved to the moon and back.
If ever there was a remarkable person, Michelle was her. She was bright, honest, sparkly, outspoken, spunky, funky, passionate, kind, thoughtful, loving and damn right fabulous.
She was a dancing queen and fashionista too.
Michelle loved life, loved to dance and loved to shop. Until she became ill. Then life got tough and she loved it less.
But she never stopped fighting, she never stopped dancing and she never stopped looking fabulous.
Michelle was first diagnosed with breast cancer around ten years ago, some years after my own diagnosis. Having been in remission for a while, her cancer returned with a vengeance and she went into battle again.
It was a devastating time for her.
She fought with dogged determination, with bravery and with spirit. She was a fighter of fighters and a true inspiration in every sense of the word.
But sadly, she lost her battle.
It was simply too big to win.
And she was gone.
During Michelle’s journey, she discovered that she carried the BRCA gene. As do I. In simple terms, this is a genetic mutation that increases your risk of getting breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
I recall our in depth conversations about preventative surgery which involved (1) major breast surgery and (2) an oophorectomy. This is where your ovaries and tubes are removed.
Michelle opted for both.
She was focussed and she was brave.
However, with the removal of her ovaries, she was thrown into immediate menopause. An immediate and shocking menopause. With immediate and shocking symptoms and the tough time she was already going through, suddenly got even tougher.
My heart went out to her.
In true Michelle style, she handled her symptoms with strength and without complaint. And it made me wonder if, when there’s a bigger battle to fight, like there was for Michelle, the menopause fades into insignificance in comparison to what else is at stake.
Or maybe it was more to do with Michelle being who she was.
A trouper, a fighter, a star.
I am still in awe of the battle she fought and the legacy she left behind. Of the lives that she touched and the people she inspired.
And I continue to think of her heartbroken family and friends who miss her so terribly and so deeply.
I am one of them.
Keep sparkling, my friend.
Keep on dancing.
And know that I am thinking of you.
J x
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