Maria Guerrero

Ten Years ago I was a freshman in college at Texas Woman's University. One afternoon in October I had just gotten home from dance class and was sitting on my bed. My mom had a doctor's appointment that afternoon and so had come home early from work. She called out to me from downstairs, "Angie!" Giving my typical response, "Yeah", I yelled back. "What are you doing?" My mom always had to know what I was up to. "I'm studying!", I hollered from my room as I looked up from my Texas History text book and heard her footsteps coming up the stairs. Mom smiled at me and sat down on my bed. Now, before I continue my story?For those of you who know my mom, she is strong in health, faith, love, will?I mean the list is endless. For all I know my mom wears a cape and shiny red boots under her clothes. Ok?So we were sitting on my bed and she says to me, "I had my mammogram today and they think I may have cancer." I looked at my mom with a glazed over stare for a second but for what felt like a life time. "Cancer!" I said with anger and disbelief. "Are you sure?" My mom answered as if not to worry me, "No. They are not for sure but I have to go back for testing." I think back to that day often. I wonder if the hug I gave my mom that afternoon was enough. Did it say "I love you?" Did it say "I'll be strong for you?" Did it say "I pray God won't take you away from me because I'm not ready for you to leave me?" Ten years ago my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Ten years ago the Guerrero house changed. The strongest person I had ever known was weak. The chemo treatments that turned my mom's fingernails purple, mouth taste metallic, and made her lose her hair brought me to tears. It made me feel helpless?hopeless. I never cried in front of my mom or dad. I know they needed me to be strong.

My mom's middle name is Esperanza, "Hope," or Hopie to her comadres. Since my mom has been in remission she has done a lot of work to help spread the importance of self examination and annual breast examinations. Not to mention all of the men and women who have come to my mom for guidance and support during their own journey through breast cancer. I love my mom very much. She has taught me and shown me the importance of family and love for one another. She is my rock, my foundation. And through all her perseverance during her battle against breast cancer she has become stronger and has given others that follow in her foot prints HOPE.

My mom is not superwoman but has been given a gift from God to be a leader in her self, family and community. Ten years ago my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Ten years from now I hope I will write another dedication like this one, however, in 10 years it will be 20 years. For now and for years to come, she will continue to encourage others to check themselves and go for breast examinations. Breast Cancer is not discriminatory; men, women, mothers and daughters alike.