Mother’s Day has just passed. It was a day to enjoy family; a day to celebrate the women who have made a difference in your life. And for me, a day to cherish the fact that I am still here. You see, last summer, I wasn’t sure if I would see another Mother’s Day. At the age of 51 and the mother to three wonderful children, I was diagnosed with lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in women.
As a nonsmoker, I was shocked, I was scared; but above all, I was ready to fight. I knew there were treatments available and I was not going to give up. I needed to be there for my kids. Since my diagnosis, I have done my best to be honest with them about my progress; setting an example on how to handle adversity and keep a positive attitude on the darkest of days. This has been a tough road, but the silver lining for me has been the unwavering support and compassion shown by my family and friends, not only for me, but for all those impacted by lung cancer in our community. I’ve never been more proud.
I want to remind all of those women out there to cherish your families and learn about your risk for lung cancer, so you can enjoy many Mother’s Days to come.
Dawn Horner
Vancouver
