Dear Marie,
As a woman, women's health issues are, of course, a great interest to me. As such, when Marie came out with the Adora Belle for the Cure, she was a doll that I wanted to add to my collection. I had her displayed with another doll that had great significance to me, the (Marie Doll Friends) MDF Brings Tranquility Doll. I think that both dolls signify a wonderful sisterhood. When the first greeting card doll came out, I knew that I would like to add her to my collection also. I NEVER dreamed of how the second one would come to be added to the group! My daughter gave her to me a few weeks after I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
My husband and I were in Las Vegas in July to see two of Donny and Marie's shows. During one of the days when we were waiting to head to the theater, we decided to walk around and see what the town had to see. We had walked about six hours up and down "The Strip" when I had a pain in my chest. When I put my hand to my chest, I felt a lump about the size of a grape in my breast. Now I had just had a mammogram and an ultrasound in April so I just couldn't believe that the lump was there and that it was so big. I admit that I hadn't been adamant about my self-exams the previous months because I had just had the tests and I was busy planning my daughter's wedding. If I hadn't been in Vegas to see Donny and Marie and I hadn't been doing all of that walking, I'm not sure I would've found this lump anytime soon.
I had it checked immediately when we got back and found out on Aug. 14 that the test results were positive for Stage 2 breast cancer. The doctor was greatly relieved that I had found the lump because she said if we hadn't found it before the next scheduled mammogram in Oct., we would've been dealing with a completely different picture.
My daughter got married on Aug. 30 and my chemo began on Sept. 2. I have shared my journey with my Marie Doll Friends (MDF) family and have gained great strength from them. They have shared my ups and downs, my struggles, my worries, my fears, and my laughs. I try to always stay positive and it really is fairly easy to do because of the support that I receive from them. I even received a sweet email from Karen Scott last week. Shortly after reading Karen's email, I had gotten into the shower. When I got out, I caught a glimpse of myself and my bald head in the mirror. Now, a day earlier, this same glance caused shock and pain but that day, I burst out laughing. I am sure it was because I had met with the plastic surgeon the day before and I had that and Karen on my mind and this time when I saw my head in the mirror, I saw Karen sitting at that table at QVC with all of those doll heads sitting there. I thought, "Oh my gosh! I look like one of those doll heads sitting there on the table, waiting for an artist like Karen to paint my makeup on, waiting for the plastic surgeon to sculpt my body and waiting for the 'Master Sculptor' to decide what kind of hair I will have when it grows back in." Now when I look in the mirror, it's not traumatic, it's humorous! God really has a sense of humor because I am sure that He is the one behind the events that led up to my feeling better about losing my hair.
God also keeps reminding me that the bad things end when they are supposed to and then you go on to the next step. When I first met with the oncologist, she asked me if I wanted to not have chemo during the week of Thanksgiving because I would feel lousy for the holiday if I had chemo that week. (I have chemo every other Tuesday.) I told her that I wanted to stay on target and not delay anything. So she got out her calendar and wrote down each scheduled chemo treatment beginning with Sept. 2 and ending on DECEMBER 9th!!!!!! (When she said the date, I replied, "Donny Osmond's birthday." She said, "Well, that's interesting." My friend said, "Well, you would just have to understand the significance of it all.")
You see, that told me something that I already knew but it was good to be reminded! Bad things do happen in life but God is right there beside us, walking with us but also carrying us when necessary
AND those bad things do come to an end. He also brings people into our lives to make the journeys more interesting, more fun, more tolerable, and more enjoyable. Whether He brings those people to us through the radio, television, next-door, a doctor's office, the internet, or doll collecting, they all have a purpose in our life.
I am so thankful for all of the people who God has brought into my life and I treasure each of them and their significance in my life and my life's journeys. Seeing the breast cancer dolls in my collection are constant reminders of the fight before me but also stand for all of those who have fought this fight before me and how many have supported the fight for the cure! My fight is easier because of all of those who have fought before me and all of the money that has been raised for that fight. I am not in this battle alone and that inspires me constantly.
Although I don't like having my picture taken and don't really like to share pictures of myself, I think that these are an important part of my story since they are part of the journey...
Tammy B.
(excerpt from Tammy’s original letter)
