Samantha Blanchette

Survivor

When I first found out I had breast cancer in 2008, my brother just passed away two months before my diagnosis. He was 24 years old and born with a hole in his heart. He had 17 open-heart surgeries and lived just passed his 24th birthday. He was the man with the golden heart and he would give anything to anyone. He helped raise me because my mom was always working, and my father wasn’t involved. 

My brother my best friend; my everything. He got me ready for school, he made sure I was dressed, he always brought me home from school and we would do our homework together and hang out until my mom got home from work. When we were done with school, I continued to be with my brother every day. He was such an amazing person. No one will ever fill that void! 

I was so scared to tell my mother about my diagnosis because she had just lost her son and I didn’t want her scared to lose her daughter at the same time. I was so scared but at the same time I knew I had to be strong. I also gave birth to my son in 2007, just two months before my brother passed away. I believe if it wasn’t for my son, I’m not sure where I would be today. 

I never thought in a million years I would lose my brother and also find out I have breast cancer within two months of each other. There’s a lot of times when I was down and out and always sleeping and feeling depressed. One day I woke up and said you know what God wants me here for a reason so let me make the best of the life that I was given. 

I know in my life I’ve made a lot of bad decisions. Everybody has. I vowed to my son that morning that I will make the best of every minute and every second!! I’m trying to help him and show him things to prevent him from having the rough, bumpy roads that I have had. No one is perfect and I know he will have a lot of bumps, too. But if I can help him, then we can try and fix it fast together! My family is my everything!! I’m so happy I have the support that I do have and that I know they will never leave!!

Breast cancer isn’t something I can prevent from happening, but I know I have the knowledge to try and make the best of it and not let it drag me down. I pray every day. I hope one day I can have a straight and easy road, but I feel like it’s never gonna happen. Everything I experience has made me who I am today.