Tarah – Kentucky

I was only 34 years old when I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Last year I found a lump in my breast on vacation, but I didn’t want to deal with it. A mixture of fear, not believing it was possible, and having no known family history of cancer made a diagnosis feel impossible. Motivated by my 3-year-old, I decided I needed to get tested. I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer and tested positive for the BRCA gene. As it turns out, cancer did run in my family, just a part of my family I wasn’t well acquainted with. I have had 2 rounds of chemo and a double mastectomy. I am still doing chemo and then will have a round of radiation. The next steps are reconstructive surgery and a full hysterectomy, both have been delayed due to COVID. 

Hope Scarves is such a wonderful community, but it’s more than a scarf, it’s a sense of hope and support. A co-worker sent me a Hope Scarf. I was shocked and surprised and thankful. It made me feel special and supported. Having this community has been so uplifting. Knowing I’m not going through this alone and having light at the end of the tunnel has been so encouraging. The scarf made me feel special and pretty, and like I could face the world. I have since sent others Hope Scarves. When you send someone a scarf it just lets them know they are not alone. Every time they wear it they can remember all the people who love them. They are in a club with these other strong women.

We need hope now, more than ever! I find hope every day in my young son. Seeing the world through his eyes. Every day he is so full of joy and love and adventure. He is so resilient- he shows me so much happiness in the world. My greatest hope for the future is to live to dance at my son’s wedding and live a long healthy life with my family. 

Help remind Tarah and thousands more facing cancer that Hope Isn’t Canceled by sponsoring a Hope Scarf for $30/month as part of our Hope Isn’t Canceled Sustainability Campaign.  Our goal is to send 400 Hope Scarves each month – please join us!