|
| Amy Hefner's Fundraising Page |
|
|
|
|
|
| When I was just 25 years old, my mom was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. In just 9 months, she was gone. In her final days, she gave me one last gift. What she gave me was the power to change my fate with the knowledge that she had been high risk for breast cancer with a genetic mutation and as I soon learned, I also carried the BRCA 2+ gene. I had a one year old daughter and was dealing with my mortality, my options including surgery that would result in menopause or removing healthy breast tissue to reduce my risk. I did surveillance for some time, finally arriving at the conclusion that I was prepared to remove my ovaries. When I was 27, I removed my ovaries and uterus and have struggled with the resulting menopause ever since. Last year, I made the decision to remove my healthy breasts and have reconstruction. In one of my pre-op appointments just two weeks before my surgery date, they discovered some worrisome spots that at the time, they thought was cancer. This resulted in a more radical surgery as well as removal of lymph nodes in my right side. Luckily, after the surgery, I was cancer free. Although in the long run, my cancer risk is now low and my chances of suffering the same fate as my mom has decreased dramatically, I now suffer from the effects of my surgeries. With the removal of my ovaries, I was thrust into instant menopause. This puts me at risk of osteoporosis and given me headaches, sleeping problems and depression. Since my mastectomy, my chest muscles have made it difficult to resume my regular athletic activities. One of my favorite things to do, swimming has become very uncomfortable and some strokes are near impossible. The one thing I have found refuge in is running. A few weeks before surgery I ran a half marathon and since the surgery, I have resumed running on a regular basis and gotten to the point where my breasts are no longer a factor in the running. My dream is to run the Nike Women’s Marathon, October 2010 in San Francisco. I have dreamed of the Nike Women’s Marathon since I began running before my surgery almost two years ago. I want to run for all the right reasons, raise awareness for breast cancer, raise money for breast cancer research, but mostly, I want to run for me. I want to prove to myself that this mutation that has ruled so much of my life doesn’t define me. I’m not racing to win, I’m not racing for time. I am racing to show my strength, perseverance and determination. I plan on raising funds through family and friends as well as create a following on Facebook as well as my journey blog at www.bridgesgirl.com I plan on blogging about my experience and training and submitting articles to raise additional funds for breast cancer research.
Event: Nike Women’s Marathon, October 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
