Lori M.’s 3-Day Story and Connection

Lori M. is no stranger to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day. She has completed three 3-Day events, and is currently training for her fourth. This one is different though, as she comes back to the cause after an 11-year break. What happened during those 11 years, and why walk again now? Read on to find out more about Lori M.’s incredible story.

I have done the 3-Day three other times, all in Chicago. The first two times were done with my mom. Our first and second time was in honor of my mom’s husband’s first wife and daughter who both battled breast cancer and lost the fight. In 2010 I walked with three other ladies; our team was “cops for a cure.” I have been a 911 dispatcher for 16 years for my county, and at that time, one of our own was battling breast cancer: Flora #139 from the Portage Police Department. Flora is currently 11.5 years cancer free. She is still a police officer and continues to “fight like a girl.” In 11 years, two childhood friends of mine, one who is a single mom and one who is a very young friend, who both mean the world to me, are currently going for radiation once a week.

In August 2018, my husband, Mark (but everyone calls him Randy), was diagnosed with leukemia. He was the love of my life, childhood sweetheart and best friend. We started living a little more after that, we always loved going and doing things, never sat still, and enjoyed our vacations. We started taking more pictures and going more places. The only times we weren’t together was when we were each at work. We have three beautiful sons and daughters who have given us three grandchildren: two boys and a princess.

Our world took a gut punch again on December 31, 2020 when Mark was admitted to the hospital with Covid. He lost his battle on February 13, 2021 after fighting for six weeks in the hospital. I, along with my children, mother in-law, and a few family members, were fortunate in being able to be with him when he passed. We will be welcoming our fourth grandbaby in December (a baby girl). She’ll be named after her papa in heaven; Randi will be her name.

To say my days have been difficult is an understatement. In addition to taking care of my mom, my days are full of work, kids, and life. I am busy, consumed with trying to just go through life day by day. I didn’t find time to mourn, miss him, to have alone time to just focus on myself. I just kept thinking I need to get away, to think. I tried a vacation with some friends…that didn’t work. I then started seeing more ads for the 3-Day. I got to thinking about it, ignoring it, seeing more ads, ignoring them. Then I pulled up the Susan G. Komen Facebook page and tried ignoring it again.

I finally pulled up the page, looked at it, prayed and thought, “ok, maybe.” Then things started falling into place. I looked at my work calendar because I thought “oh, I’m probably working” (good excuse to say no). Nope, I am off work that weekend. I did a lot of praying, talking to myself, maybe trying to talk myself out of it. I registered and committed to raising the money and walking 60 miles again while not being in shape, 11 years older, and an emotional wreck.

I made contact with Coach Tisho; I had a few questions for her. I think I was hoping she would tell me something I didn’t like to give me an excuse to back out. I didn’t tell anyone that I had signed up, I kept it to myself. I did a lot of praying, planning, searching myself. I knew from previous walks I would have time to myself since I wasn’t walking with anyone this time. I could walk, think, talk to God, finally be alone in my thoughts, talk to my husband. I knew there would be no distractions. I knew I’d be surrounded with survivors, strong women and men on a mission. I wanted to watch them and be inspired. I told God, “If you want me to do this, I need to hear from you, loudly…I need to know this is something I’m supposed to do, not me running from life clear across the country.”

August 5, 2021, I walked into church; only the third time in seven months. It has been difficult to go without Mark. I walked in, sat down next to a cousin and they started playing “Nothing Else,” the same song I played daily for six weeks, the same song I played as my husband took his last breath. As our preacher began to speak, he told the story of Peter being commanded by Jesus to get out of the boat and “WALK.” The message I got was loud and clear: GET OUT AND WALK. I went home, posted about my Susan G. Komen San Diego 3-Day walk, spoke about how this all came about… and the donations started coming in.

Within five days, I passed the amount needed and have raised my goal to $5,000!!!!

I’m inspired by women who have battled and survived breast cancer. I’m looking forward to flying across the country, pushing myself, and being surrounded by strong men and women all on the same mission.

Walking 60 miles in three days is hard, but it’s STILL easier than breast cancer.

Bev D. finds ways to be GRATEFUL, both in her life and for her Pink Bubble family

Next up in our “Word of the Year” series, this month Bev D. shares how she has been able to remain GRATEFUL, despite whatever challenges the past year has presented. She joined the 3-Day in 2011 to walk it once, and 15 3-Days later—she’s still here! The spirit of the pink bubble family keeps her coming back.

Tell me about your 3-Day experience.
I’ve participated in so many events since 2011, it’s hard to count…I think I am at 15!

What is your 2021 word of the year?
My word of the year is GRATEFUL.

Why is that your word of the year?
Even though 2020 was an awful year for the world, I am grateful because I was still able to spend time with my “pod” of friends and family. We hiked and went to the beach, and we were grateful we were able to do things like that. ALSO, my daughter had a baby girl! Baby Pearl Rhiannon was born on Thanksgiving Day. They spent the whole pregnancy quarantined and everyone is healthy and beautiful. She is my first grandchild and I am enormously grateful for her.

Why do you participate in the 3-Day?
My mom had breast cancer, which was the reason I walked the first year. I honestly thought it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience: “one and done” as they say (LOL) but like many of us, that is NEVER the case. The pink bubble became my family and forever friends and I love you all!

What does the 3-Day family mean to you?
The 3-Day family is the family I chose. They mean the world to me! I feel safe and loved and part of a special community that the outside world can never understand unless they join “the bubble.”

How does your word of the year connect to the 3-Day?
I am grateful not only for the things in my life, but for my 3-Day family, too. My 3-Day friends are in my bubble that I stay in and travel with. I have so many friends near and far that I call family who I know I can always depend on to be there! They have enriched my life ten-fold.

If you could share a message with the Pink Bubble, what would it be?
I am so grateful for my pink family that is close by, for always being here. I am grateful for the pink family from afar, for keeping us connected to each other in so many ways. We’ve had virtual walks, sent cards to each other, and have always been there to offer prayers when needed.

My symbol for my mom is a ladybug and there have been so many times when someone randomly will send me a text to tell me that they saw my “mom” in their office, in the park, on the sidewalk, in their house. And it always comes at a time when I just needed to hear it!

We want to know: What are you GRATEFUL for? Check back next month for the next blog post in our “Word of the Year” series.

The Four Words That Changed My Life

By Beth B.

Beth B. at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®

I never get tired of telling my story. Four words.

It all started on October 26, 2011 —10 days after my 30th high school reunion. I went for my annual exam. Ten minutes into the visit, my gynecologist said, “You have a lump.” Four words. Thirty minutes later, I was having a mammogram a month before my regularly scheduled one and an ultrasound. An hour later, the technician took me into a room and put me on the phone with my doctor, who said, “We found something suspicious.” Four words. They told me to find a surgeon and schedule a biopsy as soon as possible. Six days later, I had a biopsy, and on November 4, 2011, my world turned upside down. I was 48 years old when I heard “You have breast cancer.” Four words.

Part of my story involves how and where I received my diagnosis. I am a lobbyist for a financial services company, and the day after my biopsy, I traveled to Washington, D.C., on a business trip. As every cancer patient knows, the thing that you crave the most is normalcy. While I didn’t yet know that I was a cancer patient, I craved normalcy. The thought of sitting at home and waiting for the results was unbearable to me. I was in a meeting room with about 75 people when my cellphone started ringing, and I could see it was the surgeon’s office. I made it out to the lobby where the diagnosis was delivered. It was as if all the air had left the building. All I wanted to do was to get back to my room to call my Mom. I held it together until she picked up the phone, and I burst into tears. I felt like a child who falls off her bike and doesn’t cry until she gets home and runs straight into her mother’s arms.

I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, stage 2B. I had a lumpectomy a week before Thanksgiving in 2011. My margins were not clean, and I had node involvement. I chose to have a single mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, and I have never regretted that decision. The surgery was four days before Christmas. I had eight rounds of chemo. I lost all of my hair and started reconstruction during chemo. I finished treatment on May 2, 2012 and had reconstructive surgery later that summer with the final surgery that fall. I am currently taking Letrozole after five years of Tamoxifen. I still have neuropathy in my feet, but it is gone from my hands. Now my four words are “You are a survivor.”

I have met the most incredible people on this journey. I am proud to be a survivor, and I feel blessed every day. My fellow survivor thrivers are the bravest people I have ever met. They give me hope and courage every day. I hit the 9-year survivorship mark last November. Some days, it feels like yesterday, and other days, it feels like a lifetime ago. Some days, I scratch and claw my way through, but most days I just feel incredibly lucky.

We must continue to fund the research that will eventually eradicate this monster. Together we can, and will, lift the veil on this horrendous disease. Together, we are stronger than cancer. Life changes in an instant. I really have no other words. I will NEVER stop telling my story and I will NEVER stop fighting for a cure.

Here are my final four words to you — GO LIVE YOUR LIFE!