Joey Gursky - "Strong & Beautiful"
I was diagnosed with breast cancer just 2 days before my 34th birthday. I had cancer growing in my breast as well as in my lymph nodes, so I had both of my breasts removed, all of my lymph nodes, and began chemotherapy. I tried to stay as upbeat as possible during treatment, because I have 3 small children, and I didn't want them to ever worry about me or have any doubts in their minds as to whether Mommy would be okay or not. I made it through the surgeries and chemo okay. I even ran the Chicago Marathon while I was on chemo, with a time of 4 hours, 45 minutes.
Surprisingly, some of the hardships during my cancer treatment were not as hard in some ways as my hardships I faced after chemotherapy and sugery. I never was one to obsess over looks, or consider myself to be "high maintenance", but there are some things you take for granted. Like having hair, eyebrows, and solid teeth that don't crumble apart when you chew. The longest journey for me has been getting back my self-esteem after what cancer did to my body and spirit. You just feel broken and ugly.
I continued working out, and my body was getting closer to 'normal', but my teeth had suffered considerably from the chemo. They had lost all of the enamel, and were rough and jagged. They looked dull and dirty. (Like I needed one more challenge, right??) Anyway, I finally found Dr. Jerome Cha after looking high and low for someone I felt I could trust with something that meant so much to me. From the moment I came into the office, I felt like family. They were so kind to me, and just made me feel like I was beautiful no matter what. Dr. Cha completed a set of veneers on me, and did it all in one morning under anesthesia, so I didn't remember a thing! ( I was not about to go through tons more medical prodedures after what I had already been through) My teeth now look absolutely gorgeous and NATURAL. I feel more beautiful than I ever have, and I could not have done that without Dr.Cha and his staff.
Cancer stinks, but there is always something to be gained through hardships and adversity. Everything that I have seen makes me who I am, and I am so proud to be who I am.
(And now I'm hot)!
.
We have raised $783.30 for Susan G. Komen. We have donated $783.30 to Susan G. Komen in honor of Joey Gursky.
