Beatriz Midlaw
Survivor
![](https://www.komen.org/wp-content/uploads/Beatriz-scaled.jpeg)
Help to learn from your journey
Choosing to learn
I was diagnosed on April 2018 ( I was 38 years old )I went to my yearly check up on January , I told my doctor that one of my breast was harder than the other and it was possible that was me working out so much . He touch around and say was nothing I ask if I need it a mammogram and he say no by April my breast was deform and when I did my appointment thinking now I have and infection but for my surprise no was stage 3 invasive lobular carcinoma being a mother of 2 kids one in kindergarten and the other one in by second grade I want it to teach my kids to be strong life isn’t easy and need it to make sure my kids learn that we need it to work as a team . Yes I cry and I was so angry but at one point needed it to let that go and started learning from everything and I wrote this for my family Cancer is a wonderful teacher. If you let her, she’ll teach lessons you never dreamed you needed to learn. Often, in the beginning, it’s hard to see and learn the lessons. As the days go by, it’s easier to become more aware of the important things cancer has to tell. But not everyone wants to discover the lessons. Not everyone chooses to look for the good in a hard situation. This is part of the lesson. I still don’t understand why I got cancer and I don’t know what caused it. I probably never will. But, I can say, finding gratitude has been a blessing and cancer helped me discover. I have so much for which to be grateful. Cancer taught me that no one is invincible…but with the right attitude, you can get pretty damn close. Cancer taught me what it means to be loved. I mean really loved by someone…through thick or thin. Cancer taught me that bad days are your choice. You always have the option to change your attitude. And if you can do that, you can do anything. Cancer taught me what it means to be strong. And you will never know how strong you are until it’s your only option. Cancer taught me the definition of fear. And nothing I do in my life or career or anywhere else will ever be scarier than where I’ve already been. Cancer taught me that no matter what is taken from you on the outside…it can never change who you are on the inside. And more than anything else…cancer taught me that life is not a given. Every single bad day is so much better than no day at all. That feeling sorry for myself gets me nowhere. And every single second is a chance for greatness. Please don’t take anything for granted I know this pandemic being so hard in so many but we are still here and that’s a blessing. We are all tired but if you look around is always someone that is having a hardest time than you . Let’s try to see the good instead in only focusing in the bad because that is not going to change what are you going true, is not going to make it better, but your attitude can make a huge difference. I will forever be thankful for my family and friends for being there for me.