Finding the silver lining
WHEN my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2014, I remember being devastated at the news. I cried, I questioned, and I cried some more. The word cancer is very daunting and scary, no doubt. Rightfully so, because it has taken away the lives of many – some of my loved ones included. Breast cancer, however, when diagnosed early, is one of the most curable cancers. My mom is living proof of this. That being said though, it still does not make things easier, unless you choose to keep up a positive disposition. As someone who always chooses to view a cup half full rather than half empty, being the strong woman that she is, my mom, made sure, that our spirits were uplifted by choosing to keep that beam of sunshine within her. Armed with prayer, she entered the whole journey with the mindset that she would be cured – and she was. Attitude plays a big role for sure, and looking back now, I realize that my mom’s ordeal really placed things and matters in
my life into perspective for me. I learned to be grateful for even the smallest things. I was taught to value time over many other things. These are only some of the silver linings I gathered through it all.
If someone were to ask me what the best thing you can give someone going through cancer (or even in general a tough time) as well as his/her loved ones right now would be, I would say a hug and a listening ear. In other words, comfort. Never underestimate the gravity and cure these small acts can bring about on the darkest days. Best part is that they are of zero cost and free. In the Philippines, we are lucky to have our loved ones to lean on, but it is not always the case in other parts of the world. I remember being inspired by seeing how strong the support system was in the United States for breast cancer patients, that my mom and I vowed to join a community when we got back home to be able to provide the same amount of comfort and support to someone going through the same. After all, there is nothing quite as consoling as someone who has shared the same experience with you, right?
This is how I Can Serve came into our lives. After initially meeting with Kara Alikpala, and my mom letting her know how she would like to pledge support, we found ourselves in this great community of well-wishers, cheerleaders, and basically women empowering fellow women. It is a sisterhood of sorts – but a pink cloud of positivity that has so naturally come into our lives. Through the years, exchanges, sharing of similar stories and candid banter has made me realize that half the reason cancer can be so intimidating is the lack of information and education available to us out there, let alone, a strong support system. In addition to early diagnosis, I Can Serve provides just that. This same organization that has helped me realize the silver linings in my life is hosting a Philippine breast cancer summit this September 28, 2019, aptly called “Silver Linings” at the PICC. This forum aims to educate those who have had breast cancer, or even those who have not, but who want to learn more about it. This gathering will not only teach you a thing or two, but will encourage you to live and love more, and will hopefully inspire you to be there for someone who may need you – just like it did for me.
A good deed a day keeps the negativity away (or more realistically, I suppose, at bay). And one of the ways we can achieve this is by consistently making an effort to be kind and live a life with empathy. A lot of the times, if we surround ourselves with people who exhibit those traits, we are more likely to act just like them. I encourage you all to attend the forum, or if not, check out what I Can Serve does and the people they have helped out. I learned, you don’t need to have had cancer to be able to bring sunshine to the life of a patient or a survivor.
To register for Silver Linings, log on to www.icanservefoundation.org/silverlinings