MY FRIEND, THE GREAT WARRIOR QUEEN

I had heard the rumors, but I didn’t want to believe them. My friend had already suffered heart surgery several years ago and had most recently endured many years of simultaneous caregiving for both of her parents, and then several years more after her father’s death for her beloved mom. She fought and won a battle with breast cancer during the end of her mom’s life and was settling into a new norm when the rumors came. “She’s got some things going on,” a mutual friend said with that look of despair. “Call her.” 

When we finally connected, my friend shared with me that she was dealing with an advanced form of another cancer, had undergone a double mastectomy and had received treatment of both radiation and her final round of chemotherapy last week. “I lost my hair,” she said as a point of fact instead of pain and hopelessness. I wanted to yell to the top of my voice

YOU’VE GOT THIS! YOU ARE SO RESILIENT AND YOUR FIGHT- POWER IS SO EVIDENT! 

When I initially reached out to her on Saturday evening, she texted to inform me that she was at an event and inquired about how late she could return the call. When she called me the next evening, I asked if we could meet for lunch and she gave me the days she was available because she had a spa appointment scheduled and was entertaining guests on Friday. We settled on Thursday at her place and SHE is preparing lunch for me.

I didn’t have time to be sad or think negatively about my friend’s situation. After all she wasn’t. Her soul is saturated with love and energy from positive people, including her husband. She is a giver, not a taker.

I want to thank her for taking the time to demonstrate among family and friends that her story is so much bigger than cancer. She is a survivor in every sense — brave and resolute. I want to ultimately thank her for her insistence on enjoying life, living in faith and demonstrating to us all how to rise above extraordinary challenges while leading us to hold on to hope and choose to do what she will always do…keep LIVING!!

You are a living example of greatness, my dear friend and Warrior Queen. As you lead, we will follow. MARIO'S MESSAGE