*no words*

I hate this. I shouldn't be posting things like this in the year 2008. My friend's mother passed away today from Stage IV breast cancer. I met my friend 2 years ago, when I went to Israel on Birthright, and she told me her mom had breast cancer, and that it was metastatic. I hurt in my heart then, but 5 minutes ago, that hurt came rushing back when I saw her Facebook profile. My friend just graduated from Davidson, a college in North Carolina, so I am at least glad her mom got to see her graduate. 

I don't want to post any stupid pink ribbons, as much as I know they bring strength and encouragement to some people. Not me, not today. Posting ribbons isn't going to bring her mom back, and it isn't going to save the tens of thousands of women who will die this year. Let's do more than wear ribbons and "shop for the cure" and "walk for the cure" - yeah, we can do all that, but let's do something that really matters. Self-exams. Encouraging women we love to do monthly self-exams. Talking to our doctors. Going for mammograms. Raise money for research. Drive someone you care about to chemo. Cook them dinner. Hug them.

It's not fair. It's not right that my 22 year old friend lost her mom to this horrible disease. Ilana, this post is for your mom.

In memory of Elaine Esposito Valinsky, 1955 - 2008.