Guest Contributor Stephanie Hicks
For many, October signifies the start of fall… People begin enjoying pumpkin “everything” and start thinking up amazing Halloween costumes. While I, too, partake in pumpkin latte, cheesecake, pie, cookies, etc. binge eating, and spend hours online trying to find the perfect, creative costume for my son, I also celebrate my wedding anniversary and my husbands birthday (along with eight other birthdays in our family).
But this year, October means something more than fall flavored goodies and special days… This year I’ve come to recognize that October is “Breast Cancer Awareness” month.
During this past year, both my mom and my younger sister (age 26) had breast cancer scares. Within a few short months, they each found lumps in their breasts, had ultrasounds, mammograms, biopsies, and eventually surgery. Waiting for results for my mom and baby sister proved to be one of the hardest moments of my life. Every worst case scenario would constantly fly through my head: What would I do with out my mom? What would I do with out my best friend/sister? Henry (my son) hasn’t spent enough time with them.
After what seemed to be the longest waits ever, both my mom and sister received negative results and a huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders (and theirs as well). 
We thought that our family had dodged a bullet and we were in the clear, but not long after my mom and sisters happy news did we receive the opposite from my aunt.
Aunt Donna has always been like a second mom to me, and the moment we found out she was diagnosed with breast cancer, I feel like a little piece of me died. How could this even be happening? The three most important women in my life were faced with this incredible fear, and now my Aunt’s nightmare was coming true.
Aunt Donna, wife and mother of three, and proven to be even stronger than I ever believed possible. She underwent surgery to have one of her breasts removed, continued working during her chemotherapy, and even moved my grandmother into her home so she could take better care of her. 
Not once did she complain”why me” or show the world how scared or tired she was. She is the epitome of what a breast cancer survivor is.
On Wednesday, October 1st (the start of Breast Cancer Awareness month), Aunt Donna had her last chemo session. She will have to continue with radiation before they can reevaluate her condition, but in the mean time we could not be more proud of her.
On Saturday, October 18th, my family and I will be walking in the “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” at Fifth Third Field in Dayton, OH. While I know it’s too much to ask for everyone to join our team and walk with us, I ask that you contribute something to this cause, as every donation matters.
Here is the link for you to join our team “Save Second Base” or to make a donation.
