[NoProcess] [/NoProcess]

The hardest person to tell I had breast cancer was my mother. I was 38. I don't recall how old mom was at the time, but hearing that shocking news aged her rapidly for the next year. My mom is known for being the rock. If you are experiencing a crisis, call my mom and she will see you through. She has done so countless times. However, this crisis was more than she could bear. Despite a good prognosis, she feared losing me. Mom and I talked about how her inability to cope impacted my recovery. She said, "I hope and pray we never go through this again, but if we did, I'd know how to do it better." Nine months later, my next mammogram confirmed the need for a second mastectomy. After getting the verdict I called mom and said, "Mom! You have a wonderful opportunity to show me how well you can do, because we're going to do it again. I need a second mastectomy." And she was great. Once again, the rock. My recovery went faster as a result. In January 1995, I checked on the internet for support groups for mothers who have daughters with breast cancer and found none, but in my search did receive more than 100 e-mails from women saying, "I saw your post. If you find a support group would you e-mail me back for my mother?" I called mom and said, "I found an organization!" She said, "Great! Where is it?" I replied, "It's you. We're going to create one." And in March 1995, MSDBC Mothers Supporting Daughters with Breast Cancer , was born. It is a national non-profit organization and the only one of its kind in the world. We have a team of seasoned mother volunteers. We "match" a mother volunteer to a worried mother based on her daughter's age, stage of disease, and treatment plan. We also provide resources including a mother's handbook and daughter's companion booklet to serve as a guide to help mothers confronted with their daughter's diagnosis of breast cancer. In less than five years our organization has helped more than 10,000 mothers and daughters nationally as well as internationally. Worried mothers can get help from MSDBC. Visit the website, e-mail: msdbc@dmv.com, or phone (410) 778-1982 and ask for Charmayne Dierker, Lillie Shockney's mom. Lillie with her mom, Charmayne © Copyright 1998 MSDBC. All Rights Reserved.