Our Story ... A Shared Experience
Tom: When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1952, I was only 27 years old. Married with a small child, I was told I had only six months to live. I could not believe that my life would soon be over. I was blessed to find a great doctor. He performed a mastectomy, removing my breast and some lymph nodes. He made the incision under my arm and went in from the side, so I have little visible scaring. I was offered cobalt treatment, but after reading up on it, I declined. If I only had a short time to live, I didn't want to feel bad from the side effects for whatever time I had. So, I went on with my life with some normalcy and also living it to the fullest. The doctor must have gotten all the cancer, because here I am 52 years later, still living to the fullest.
Anna: I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 1995. I had surgery, a total mastectomy of the right breast, and I was doing well, I thought, when in January 2002, I had a recurrence in the left breast. I thought, "Why me" I was devasted. The cancer had spread to my lymph nodes. I had surgery followed by chemotherapy, which made me very sick. But here we are, it's 2004, and I am doing well. I feel I am truly a survivor. I focus on each day and live it to the fullest.
Tom & Anna Morris’ story first appeared in our October 2004 newsletter. They continue to be ambassadors for our organization. Thank you Tom & Anna!
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