Our National Holiday - A Month of Celebration & Awareness
Happy October 1st! Or as we call it in our family, our National Holiday.
Now, I know October 1st is not marked on any official calendar, but in our home it is a day like no other. It is my birthday, my husband’s birthday, my son’s birthday, and my grandson’s birthday. To top it off, it is also our wedding anniversary. Yes, you read that right. All of those milestones, spanning four generations, fall on the very same day.
When people hear about it, they usually stop and say, “What are the odds?” The truth is, the odds are extraordinary, yet for us it is simply reality. October 1st has become more than a date on the calendar. It is our tradition, our family’s celebration, and our very own National Holiday.
Why This October Is Different
This year, I am choosing to do something more with this month that already means so much. Every day in October, I will be blogging about Breast Cancer Awareness, sharing education, experiences, and everything in between.
Why? Because on April 5, 2024, I heard three words that changed my life. You have cancer. Bilateral breast cancer, both breasts, estrogen receptor positive. On June 14, 2024, I underwent a double mastectomy with Goldilocks reconstruction. This is more than a cause to me. It is a journey I have walked, a battle I have fought, and a story I am still living.
October has always been a month of joy for our family, but now it carries even deeper meaning. It is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I cannot think of a more fitting way to honor it than by blending our celebrations with purpose, lifting awareness, sharing hope, and inspiring action.
What Is Coming This Month
Throughout October, I will be sharing:
• Personal stories and reflections
• Key facts and education about breast cancer
• Resources for prevention, detection, and support
• Ways to get involved and make a difference
• Messages of hope, strength, and community
Some days may feel heavy, others full of hope, but all will be real.
Join Me
So here is my birthday wish. That you will join me on this journey. Whether you read along, share a post, or simply pause to reflect, I invite you to walk this month with me.
Just as our family’s National Holiday brings us together in celebration, breast cancer awareness has the power to bring us together in purpose.
Here is to October. Here is to awareness. Here is to life.
And here is to every birthday and the anniversary that makes this day unforgettable.
Let’s do this.