Keeping Calm, Fighting on while Helping Others

I have been MIA for weeks now from all social networks, some family and others. My world had stopped spinning. As others went about their weeks, my weeks felt like months. You can never honestly sympathize with people until you are in a similar position. On March 31st, I heard words come out of my mother’s mouth that I thought I would never hear. She revealed to me that her doctor told her that she has breast cancer. I stood there waiting for the punch line that never came. I thought maybe this is an early tasteless April Fools joke. But it wasn't. It was real life and at that moment me, my son, my brother and my mom world stopped. We had to come to terms about what was happening. We had family and friends who bonded together to pray and helped increase our faith. And there were some who made it seem like it was a death sentence. We quickly shut them down, ignore their calls and continue the fight.

My mother is one of the few women who stay on top of their health and is lucky. When my mother turned 40, she got her first mammogram. And every year from then, she went to the doctor’s annually, at the same time to get a full check-up. This is the reason the breast cancer was caught very early. Not only does she get her annual mammogram, but she also goes to her GYN, her primary Doctor, and does routine CAT scans. Our bodies break down everyday as we go about living our scheduled routine lives. We only stop to go to the doctor when the over the counter medication doesn't work. But as hard as it may be, we have to schedule our annual pit stop to the doctor to make sure everything is in working order. Thankfully, my mother has the best, top of the line, health insurance and was directed to highly recommended doctors in Jersey. My mother is already in good hands with God, but God also placed her in their hands because He knew the doctors that speak and think the same kind of faith we have.

We are blessed because of this, especially since we live in the NY/NJ area where the medical teams are more advanced. But many people aren't as fortunate. Many people can't afford to have health insurance and have the best doctors that they hear their family and friends talk about. It's hard for single parents to afford to take care of themselves, because of all their time and money goes to their child or children. I know my mom is in great hands but I can't help but to think of those who are less fortunate. It's so easy to tell someone to go to the doctor and get checked but to be in their position is a different story. Yes, they can get help from the state and get help at their local healthcare offices, but they are still limited. Those without the proper medical insurance can't get the proper medical care. And because of this, they don't go.

But we have to take care of ourselves so we can live a long time to see our grandchildren, great grandchildren and possibly or great, great grandchildren. It may seem hard but it's worth our lives. A simple routine can save our lives. The numerous of new diseases and illnesses that are affecting more now than 10, 20, 30 years ago. Many of these ailments are curable and can be managed but it lies in our hands.

Part of it rely on us taking better care of our bodies besides going to the doctor for annual check-ups. It relies on us to eat healthy and stay active, by exercising. Let's be honest, eating healthy is expensive. But there are ways we can eat healthy on a budget that is suitable for people on low income salary. I'm talking about those who make less than $30,000 a year.

So, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to help those who can't afford to eat healthy stay on track and buy food that can fit their budget. I have a 13 year old son, who plays football, and who's appetite is increasing along with his height of 5’8. So, budgeting is what I am all about. Every Sunday, beginning April 24th, I’ll put up a shopping list, the total I spent, meal plans and an exercising plan that we can fit into our busy hectic schedules. And don't worry, I won't include those 5, 6 or 7 am workouts, unless that fits into YOUR schedule.

We can do this. We can survive and catch our issues early, like my mother and thousands of others. And be SURVIVORS just like them.