Deborah Splawn Photography: Gina's Journey

When Gina contacted me and said she wanted to tell her story to raise awareness of cancer, breast cancer. I was very excited! I asked Gina to write a few things down that she wanted people to know about her story and her struggles. This is what she said:

There are days when I want nothing more than to go to my moms and have her hold me and tell me everything is going to be okay but, I can't because I lost her to lung cancer on 06/16/2014. Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer in 04/2013 she turned 70 in 02/2014. When she passed away in June it was the day before my breast cancer surgery. I was devastated!

I remember worrying about telling my mom about my cancer. I thought she would lose it but she kept it together which took me by surprise. I guess she knew I needed her to be strong for me like Mom's always do.

I would always go with my mom to her appointments she looked forward to those days. Seeing her doctor was always fun for her & I. He was very handsome. Mom would always joke with him and always made him laugh. Going through this journey without my mom has been one of the hardest things for me to deal with knowing that she couldn't be with me. I had to realize that she was still with me. She is my angel watching over me.She will always be my angel!

Pam my sister was diagnosed @ the age of 41 with stage 4 breast cancer. She dealt with it for 9 years until it took her life March 25,2014. She was 49 years old.

I think sometimes" hey maybe I should call her and ask her a question about chemo etc. and then I stop myself and say Gina wake up she's not with you anymore." as I go through my breast cancer journey I remember some of her struggles when she was going through it. Sometimes I wish heaven had a phone.

I remember going with her to a chemo treatment we had a really good time laughing and being silly. I wish I had went with her more and was more involved in her journey.

Our family doesn't have any history of breast cancer. It's ironic: devastating to say the least. I think how can 3 immediate family members: Mom and two daughters have this horrible disease when it's not hereditary or even in our gene trait.

2 weeks after Pam passed away I decided that I needed to go have my mammogram. I knew I was a few months behind on getting it done. Sure enough the tests came back positive. After an ultrasound biopsy. I was at work on May 9th, 2014 when I got the call. My life was completely changed forever.

I'm fighting for me.. I'm fighting for my sister.. I'm fighting for my mom! I will beat this!