After losing her mother to metastatic breast cancer just two weeks after her diagnosis, Amber was left searching for a way to honor her memory. Today, she’s turned her grief into purpose by fundraising for the Houston Race for the Cure. This is her story in her own words.
My Mom’s First Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Nothing prepares you for watching your mom fade before your eyes, knowing you are powerless to stop it. Grief doesn’t leave you after a loss like that. It becomes a part of you, quietly weaving itself into who you are.
But in that grief, you can find something that draws you forward, pulling you to action. For me, that feeling brought me to Komen and the Race for the Cure.
Prior to my mom’s diagnosis, my family’s history with cancer was minimal. My great aunt went through breast cancer when I was very young, but the thought that cancer would hit close to home never crossed my mind.
In 2021, my mom came home from a doctor’s appointment and sat down with me and my two younger brothers. She explained she had breast cancer; more specifically, stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma. She underwent chemotherapy and a lumpectomy, finishing treatment in 2022. We went on with life as usual.
When the Breast Cancer Returned
Then, during the summer of 2023, something changed. After returning home from a cruise – our first family vacation since before her original diagnosis – my mom developed a chronic cough.
Doctors told her it was most likely strep throat or bronchitis. Time passed, and the cough persisted. She kept getting weaker. She went back to the doctor. This time, they told her it was pneumonia. Antibiotics didn’t help. Her oncologist also said her scans were clear.
In November, she could barely get out of bed. At that point, my dad had enough. He took her to the hospital. This time, we finally got the answer. We learned my mom’s cancer had returned as triple negative breast cancer and had already metastasized (spread) to other parts of her body. We were told to prepare for hospice.
To say I was in shock would be an understatement. I couldn’t understand why there was nothing that could be done. My dad did his best to explain it. The cancer was too aggressive for treatment.
Saying Goodbye: Losing My Mom to Breast Cancer
My mom didn’t want to spend her last days in the hospital, so we opted to bring her home. The days were tough, but there was one good day where we almost forgot about the cancer. She got out of bed and engaged with all our visiting family.
My mom passed away on Dec. 18, 2023, two weeks after receiving her diagnosis. She was 57 years old.
Finding Purpose Through Race for the Cure
It took me a while to grieve. I was so lost and confused. But then I started to read stories about breast cancer research. It made me realize I wanted to do something to help. I couldn’t save my mom, but this was something I could do to help others.
In 2024, I registered for the Houston Race for the Cure. I fundraised but couldn’t attend in person due to a prior work commitment.
This year, I’m planning on being there for my first Race. I’m training, because it’s my goal to run the entire thing. I’m looking forward to being a part of a community coming together to raise money for an important cause.
Why I Race
Every dollar has the power to change someone’s story. I am running because no child should have to lose their mother too soon to a disease that research can fight. Something drew me to the Race for the Cure, and I truly believe that God placed this Race in my path for a reason – to make a difference, to help others and to honor my mother.
I race because love does not end when someone leaves this earth. I race because my mother deserves to be remembered. Losing a mother to breast cancer is a grief no daughter should have to endure, but if my story can inspire even one person to keep going, fighting or to simply know they are not alone in their grief, then every step is worth it.
Statements and opinions expressed are that of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their healthcare provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.
