CO-XST: STORIES
There’s a voice of longing inside every one of us daring, wishing and wanting to speak.
Each of our individual voices wish to serve as an ambassador of change, whether it is speaking out on delicate topics or simply trying to figure out why we are feeling underwhelmed. At times, we need inspiration to find that message of hope within our noise of confusion.
The CO-XST: Stories platform was created to showcase a broader social message of acceptance and hope to depict often-invisible experiences and start imploring everyone to think more deeply about who they are and how we can coexist in a space where our stories become a catalyst for celebrating each other.
Each blog post represents thought-provoking emotions which allow us to see each other as we are – human beings seeking kindness + compassion for our community, our countries and our world.
I WAS THE GIFT TO CANCER
I still spend a lot of time in silence listening for His direction. I pay attention to my body and emotions. I trust and follow my intuition and continue having epiphanies like, knowing cancer was not the gift. I was the gift to cancer.
THE DAY I WAS TOLD I WAS DYING
The Dr looks at me in shock like Bih did you hear what I said? She had seen the charts -she said go ahead and cancel your plans.
FROM MY MOTHER’S TABLE
With all the challenges I’d been facing; the sun came up and the message in my heart was, “Put your big girl panties on and let’s get this show on the road.” I felt hope, and life and a future come into focus. I could physically and mentally feel the strength coming back into my body. My 2nd Act began evolving.
MOMMY, ARE YOUR BOOBIES BROKEN?
Being diagnosed with breast cancer, having a bi-lateral mastectomy, dealing with the emotional trauma of telling my kids I had cancer to facing the psychological scars of survivor’s guilt has been part of my 2nd act.
KEEPING MY PROMISE TO MY WIFE
“I knew and Penny knew getting into this relationship that with both of us having terminal lung cancer it was going to be hard,” Stranathan told Towns Correspondent Melody Karpinski that year. “No matter how long you have, you have to live every minute and enjoy it. That’s what Penny and I do”
GENTLE JOHN
My story is not about answering the phone when I was three months pregnant with my third daughter. Or hearing the ominous words, “You need to come right in.” Somewhere in there I heard the word “cancer”.
TO THAT SNIPER IN THE WOODS
I got engaged on Valentine’s Day and had my mammogram the next day. They kept me there for hours and I knew that wasn’t normal. I already had 18 year old implants and assumed one was just deflating. As if parking in the wrong parking garage and visiting 2 wrong buildings beforehand wasn’t enough! Survivors say “you just know” and I knew. A few days and biopsies later it was confirmed.
VOICES FROM AFRICA
I’m a 23-year breast cancer survivor, retired Texan, high school teacher, wife, mother of 2 wonderful adult kids and Nana to two precious grandchildren. I am also the Founder of Breast Cancer Initiative East Africa (BCIEA) Inc.