every day is a gift by morgan smith

I have a sister and a sisterhood. I am blessed and I am grateful, because every day is a gift.

As a breast cancer survivor, the fact that “every day is a gift” is a serious statement, one that cannot be taken lightly or for granted. It is a truth that is hard to describe, this raw necessity of appreciating every single day to its fullest. And I am grateful for this new outlook. In fact, my overwhelming take-away from my experience with breast cancer has been just that: gratitude. The many blessings and lessons and gifts I received, from the smallest of gestures by a nurse to enormous examples of kindness from family and friends, were so generous and so humbling–and each one touched me deeply.

When I got diagnosed, of course I felt crushed. But I have a sister. Many of you know her, Boo Zamek. She is the most incredible sister one could ever have, and she was with me every step of the way through my journey with breast cancer. She was my rock, my advocate, my cheerleader, my nurse, my voice, and so much more. I am beyond lucky to have Boo in my life. But now I also have a sisterhood, one which I never wanted: fellow breast cancer survivors. I have a running list of people I know personally who have had breast cancer, and it is four pages long, single-spaced. Those are my other “sisters,” and there is a camaraderie there that is special and uplifting, but which we never would have signed up for. We seek advice from each other; we offer each other humor, optimism, and courage; we pray together; we commiserate; we celebrate each other’s successes; and we are defiant and fight like hell. I am in awe of these women, who offered me so much inspiration, resiliency, prayers, and perspective.

Know this: 1 in 7 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Please do a self-exam once a month, and schedule your mammograms. Catching breast cancer early can make all the difference. Lastly, I am grateful to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the highest rated breast cancer organization in the U.S. If not for their strides in research and innovation, my journey could have been very different.

I have a sister and a sisterhood. I am blessed and I am grateful, because every day is a gift.