4.30am… It was very early for my family as we climbed out of our beds that morning. I was nervous, and feeling a bit self conscious.

It was just the night before where I cried unhappy tears because I was missing a breast. However, I was reminded by my husband Johnny that I was here, alive and loved. So I put all my hesitations aside, after all today was a mile marker, a day to embrace life.

Two and a half years ago, after my Triple Negative Breast Cancer diagnosis crashed into our lives, I made a promise to my boys. I made it clear in no uncertain terms I would fight this disease with all my might.

As I lost my hair, and found myself missing a breast I promised I would stand up to breast cancer.

I knew without courage and determination I could loose my battle. So I promised both Joshua and Micah I wouldn’t let my life slip away without a fight. I vowed to put on my boxing gloves and strike back!

So with that in mind I set out to make memories, to press them upon my children’s hearts and into their minds. I knew if I left nothing else I could leave my family these memories, beautiful, blessed memories.

As the days turned to months we set out together on this journey with hope and determination…

I went to my children’s baseball games, kept up with chemo and found my voice but my children still needed a way to strike out at the beast themselves. They needed a means to shout at the world, share their love, laughter, courage and make it clear no one is alone when it comes to fighting breast cancer.

So as my hair just starting growing back, the boys and I posed for Alisa Murray (www.alisamurray.com), a renowned Houston area photographer. With Joshua and Micah on each side of me, Alisa captured our family spirit, our love for one another and our personal fight.

Thirteen months later, on Sunday, October 12, 2008 the three of us, Joshua, Micah and I saw the fruits of our labor.

In Alisa’s 2009 calendar, Hope and Inspiration, Surviving Mother’s of Breast Cancer, life overflows. Month after month, Hope Blooms as not only mothers are pictured, but their legacies are set ablaze as their children light the way beside them.

Setting life on fire…that’s what today was all about… sharing Alisa’s precious gift with the world. It was our turn to give back to the cause.

As I prepared this morning, I thought back to a day not too long ago when I had no hair to fuss over. I also worried about how lope sided my chest would look on camera as I prepared to appear on one of our local news stations with Alisa. But all that was forgotten as I watched Joshua and Micah’s eyes widen watching two more boys their own age approach with another young mother and breast cancer survivor.

My boys took in the happiness that abounded. Together they saw life going on in spite of the beast…

For the first time since they heard the words “Mommy has breast cancer” they were sharing time with another young family living in the wake of this beast. Joshua and Micah were not alone! We were all three a part of something bigger than ourselves and at that moment my precious boys understood Mommy had made good on her promise.

The three of us, along side 13 other Surviving Mothers of Breast Cancer and their children, have made our stand.

Together we fulfilled a personal promise… promise to make a difference in the fight against Breast Cancer. Yes today, we stood up for the entire world to see cancer is not a death sentence, but just another detour in the journey of life!

Christina