Happy Mother's Day

As always, I’ll be thinking about my lovely mom this mother’s day. She passed away from breast cancer in 1992 at the age of 52. I was just 18 when she was diagnosed. We were always really close (I’m the only daughter and the youngest in my family) yet I was also a typical teen, meaning I definitely took her life and health for granted. I just assumed she’d be there to see me grow up and have children. There’s nothing like breast cancer to make you realize how precious life itself can be. This Saturday, I’ll be at Rethink’s Support Saturdays Spring Social. We are bringing together all the families that have participated in our Support Saturdays program for young moms dealing with breast cancer. Several of the moms were diagnosed during pregnancy. Others just after giving birth. One of the Support Saturdays moms had just had her fourth child when she was diagnosed and needed to juggle treatment and four active young kids. The women from our program are in different places in their breast cancer journey—some are dealing with a recurrence and metastasis. ALL the families will be savoring their time together this mother’s day. I plan to take it extra slow on Sunday and enjoy all the small moments with my daughter Annie. Hope you are able to do the same with you and yours!

MJ DeCoteau, Executive Director of Rethink Breast Cancer
(pictured, MJ DeCoteau & daughter Annie)