The month of October is a busy month of ‘awareness.’ I searched for a full listing just this evening and every list I found included a cause that the previous list did not include. Here are a few: Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Eye Injury Prevention Month, Hunger Awareness Month, National AIDS Awareness Month … the list could go on and on.

Every one of these causes is important to someone, lots of someone’s. If not, they wouldn’t be recognized. Some are so important that they are recognized not only nationally, but globally.

I have spent a lot of time this month focusing on pregnancy and infant loss awareness. Last year, I was still so fresh in my grief that the month came and went without too much notice. This year, it was my mission to bring awareness, if even to just one person. If just one person learned something or was touched in some way by what was shared, then it was worth the focused effort.

At the same time, I feel like I have overlooked another important cause in my life: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Both of my grandmothers had breast cancer. Both of them fought hard to win the battle. One grandma lived several years cancer free. There are several other women I know that have fought the battle and won. My other grandma fought it off, only to have it return as bone cancer a few years later. She lost her battle in June 2012. There are other women I know that have fought the battle and lost.

This post is dedicated first to my Grandma and my Grandma Nina, strong women who will always be a source of encouragement for me, even from heaven. This post is also dedicated to all women who are survivors of breast cancer, those who lost their battle and those yet to come who will endure the pain of learning they have breast cancer. May we someday find a cure for this horrible disease!

Grandma, Leann, Grandma Nina and my sister, Amber ~ May 2007 baby shower