WHY I DO IT

In the summer of 1983, I was 18, had left college and moved my world to South Florida.  I was having a ball traipsing around the countryside working with horses.  I remember the day I got the call; we were in Virginia, Culpepper if my mind serves me correctly.  I don’t recall the exact conversation as in my head it sounds like one of the Peanuts adults ‘waa waa waa waa waa’.  What I do remember are two words:  BREAST CANCER.  It was all very surreal.
 

How could this be? Mom worked in the medical field as a Nurse Anesthetist, was very active, no one in our family had breast cancer and..she was my Mom.
 

Frankly, the next eight years are a blur, although there were a couple of calls about how the cancer had spread..to her chest wall and other places..why can’t I remember where?
 

She never wanted me to change my life for her.  I must confess there were times I wanted nothing more than to run home to my Mommy.  But, she wouldn’t have it.
 

While having an ill parent is mostly a curse and a really freaking sucky one; some blessings definitely came out of it. While my Brothers and I knew our parents loved us, it wasn’t said a great deal.  Unfortunately out of sickness comes truth.  We don’t end conversations without an “I Love You”. Same when speaking with Dad.  We have a tight bond; a respect that I think might only come losing a parent. We are tight and lucky and I love my Men.
 

It was the summer 1991; my life was really starting to bloom. I have found what I wanted to do for the rest of my life or at least for the next several decades! In July I started an internship and I couldn’t be more excited. Three months later I was hired; I was on my way. Unfortunately, it became apparently that Mom wasn’t quite the same.  She forgot my 26^th birthday..it was very telling.  Just a few short weeks later I got a call that rattled me to the very core.
 

I want to say it was a weekday, but I can’t be sure.  What I do remember vividly is that I awoke from a dream Sobbing.. shaking.. scared.  I sat straight up in my bed startled. My boyfriend at the time, Bob, tried his best to comfort me; to no avail. I told him of my dream; that Mom was in the hospital and the doctors were saying there was nothing more they could do.  Sadly, I got a call just few hours later from my Aunt Marilyn, my Mom’s sister telling me that we need to head to Illinois…and we did.

   
I got to the hospital to find my Dad and Brothers already there. We greeted each other knowing this is the last time our entire family would be together.  Jay, Matt and I each said good-bye to Mom..me whispering in her ear “I love you”..she recognized me and it was comforting.  We left and headed to the farm for the night.

 

 Around midnight I got the call ..she had passed.  After an eight year valiant battle, the most amazing woman I have ever know was gone for our lives and we have forever been altered.
 

This, my story, is just one of millions.  Millions of children that have lost their Mother.  A husband who has lost his wife and parents that lost their daughter. It’s just not fair.
 

Since my Mom’s diagnosis in 1983 and her death in 1991; there have been so many advances in the ‘world’ of breast cancer, some things that only could have been dreamed of then, but are now a reality.
  

It is my wish, goal and passion that no family goes thru this pain.  With that I have organized Spring Swing for the Cure in which the proceeds will benefit the Maryland affiliate of  Susan G. Komen for the Cure to continue to identify health gaps in breast health coverage in Maryland; to award grants for education, screen and treatment programs.

Please join me in this quest.
 

Come join us at the Spring Swing for the Cure and Tee Off for Ta Ta’s!!
 

Mollie Simpkins; daughter of Gail

                      Mom and I where you would find us on any given weekend                                                Mom and Dad on their wedding day!

If you would like to share your story; I would love to read it. Just click the email address to send it off to me. 

Mollie

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