My Personal Journey-
I’m 33. I’ve lived with breast cancer. I’ve seen its face, felt its anger, tasted its frustration and heard its terror. At age 15, we were introduced. While others my age biggest concerns revolved around first kisses and driving school, I shook hands with breast cancer. The words: Mastectomy, Radiation and Chemotherapy became everyday vocabulary in my class.

At age 16, remission and hope poked its face around the corner and danced and sang with me for 3 full years until pain and anguish wielded its swagger back into my world. College exams, independence and thought provoking chatter was smothered by round after round of poisonous chemo and radiation therapy, daily doses of pharmacological cocktails, a handful of bone marrow transplants and endless nausea and pain.
At age 21 the journey evolved. Advanced Care Directives, Estate Planning and Hospice Care were on the grocery store list. What-ifs, soul searching and reflection were now the day-to-day agenda. Diving into others’ lives tended to mute the pain and reality that spread from breast to lymph nodes to lungs to brain. Clarity and content had come on a star filled evening when my mother lost her battle. I was there. I saw death. I saw it take away grandmother-hood and the dusk of life. But I also saw something else… Hope.
My mother took her struggles, internalized the pain and externalized her commitment to help others. She showed her children what it truly meant to “make your mark” in this world. She expelled every ounce of energy she had left to teach us just that. She pioneered Women’s Hair Replacement as the founder of the specialty at Fantasia Salon in Crystal, MN. She also created “An Evening to Remember” – A Breast Cancer Survivor Fashion Show and Silent Auction as well as sat on multiple committees annually for The Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure.
No MBA, doctorate or degree can prepare you for the test I have taken. I’m 33 years old, but blessed and truly fortunate to have had a mother who taught me how to live and give life. Yet, my journey continues…

In loving memory of my mother Judy Salloway Ladin – Mother of 3, Family of 10’s, True Friend of 100’s.

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