Feature Article:::...

Fight like a girl; hug a breast cancer survivor

By: Keena Rhoten

October is breast cancer awareness month. By the time you are reading this, you have surely seen the NFL umpires and referees sporting pink wrist bands. You have watched 350-pound defensive linemen tackle in pink cleats as their coaches don pink hats.

What can I say? I’ve always thought real men wear pink! I have even seen one manly man this month with pink skin! And their reason for “pinking up” makes them even better men!

“Fight Like A Girl”: Employees at our OB/GYN practices have been wearing shirts with this slogan all month in support of breast cancer. Cost of the shirts and the dollar daily donation when wearing them add up to funds to help find a cure for this killer of so many women.

I did not order a shirt for my daughter, and felt terrible about it when she was with me at work a couple of weeks ago. She wanted one and when I told her what they represented, she wanted one even more! I will not forget again. This is her fight, too!

Almost all of us have had our lives touched by breast cancer, whether through friends and family or as survivors.

I would like to share with readers the plight I have witnessed of one woman. She is a mother. She is a grandmother. She is a nurse. She is a friend. She is the widow of a man who was fortunate enough to spend his life with her. She is strong. She is brave. She has faith. She gives. She never complains. She stays positive. She rolls with the punches. She is beautiful and she is to be honored in this column.

How I wish I could say that I could face all she has with the dignity I have seen in her. Say what you may, you never know unless you have been there. She is an inspiration, and I learn from her in each interaction we have.

Her wisdom in the face of tragedy, more than once, has been the best teacher I’ve ever had! The patience I have observed is, by far, something that I don’t think I will ever achieve. What great qualities! And yet, she is so humble, I don’t even think she realizes what a great woman she is!

Our society sometimes has distorted views of admiration. We admire the successful businessman and his wealth. We admire the beauty of supermodels. We admire our neighbor’s worldly possessions. We wish we had what someone else has when instead of the envy that overcomes us, we should be appreciative of what we have been blessed with and look to those who have overcome obstacles rather than those that are placed on a “pedestal” by societal standards.

As I get older, this becomes more apparent. We should try to appreciate the simple blessings and let go of things beyond our control, which in reality, is everything except our reaction to the curve balls thrown in our path throughout life. And hope that the curve ball pitched to you is one that your bat can reach out and tap in for a base hit. The game of life is not all about home runs.

So to all who have been affected by breast cancer, hug a survivor, hug a woman and always value each and every moment of life. Fight like a girl!

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Keena Rhoten RNC-OB, BSN is clinical director of Appalachian OB/GYN Associates and East Tennessee OB/GYN Associates in Kingsport. She is a member of the Tennessee Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses. E-mail questions, comments, and topics of interest in women’s health to rhotenkr@msha.com or 10cnurse@charter.net.