BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
My Story
To my readers:
Before I begin telling you my story, I would like to take this opportunity to address and thank each of you who are gracious enough to read my books. Thank you! Each of my books are a labor of love for me. I hope you are entertained, touched, and hopefully inspired by my characters and their stories.
In 2017, I began doing research for my third book, Her First Breath, in which my main character, Sofie, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her First Breath started out as a novel, but ended up being a work based loosely on my own life.
While doing research for the character of Sofie and her condition, I consulted a local breast cancer center in order to make sure that I had my facts straight as they pertained to breast cancer and its treatment. The staff, as mentioned and thanked in the acknowledgments at the beginning of Her First Breath, was kind enough to help me with my research.
While developing my character and her condition, I was prompted to investigate my own health. To my surprise, I found that it had been several years since my last mammogram. I immediately scheduled an appointment. On August 24, 2017, that mammogram led to a biopsy, which confirmed that I had breast cancer. Ironically, the very same staff who had helped me with my book research, were the very ones who had to deliver my cancer diagnosis. On September 27, 2017, I underwent a double mastectomy.
As of today, I am happy and blessed to say that I am a breast cancer survivor!
When asked which of my books is my favorite, I always reply: Her First Breath. I say that because without Sofie’s story, I may not be here today. That book literally saved my life, and I am telling my story in hopes that it may save more lives than just mine.
Early detection is key to finding and treating breast cancer. If you are a woman and have not had your yearly mammogram, please do so as soon as possible. It may just save your life. It saved mine.
With Much Love,
Claudia
