Janet Grubbs
2017 Participant/Breast Cancer Survivor
September Oak Island, NC
I am a single mother of three boys, ages 17, 22 and 25. For the past 12 or 13 years, I have wanted the four of us to go on a vacation together but we were never able to. My dream vacation was to go to the beach, stay in a beach front house, and be able to relax and have fun together. I knew this would never happen since, as a single mom, I couldn’t even afford for us to go on an overnight trip let alone stay near the beach for more than a day and do lots of fun activities. Then, thanks to Little Pink Houses of Hope, we had the vacation of a lifetime. Our trip to Oak Island was the best vacation we have ever been on. Between us, we played on the beach and in the ocean, paddle boarded, fished, golfed, kayaked, went on a pontoon boat ride, rode on a ferry, visited an aquarium, ate the best food (which we did not have to cook) and stayed in an awesome, beach front house! My dream vacation actually happened!! The weather was beautiful, the company was great, the activities were fun, the laughter flowed and the smiles were broad. We had the chance to get away from the day to day life of cancer for a week. Every need was met and I felt taken care of. It was a worry-free week which was so needed after worrying for months about tumors and chemo and everything that comes with a cancer diagnosis. While on the trip, we met 6 other families who were going through the same things we were. We also met a team of “VolunStars” who are there to help you during the week. We all started as strangers and ended as family. Leaving the island was so hard – not leaving the house or the beach – leaving the new family we had met. I can never thank the Little Pink organization for what they did for my boys and I. Wow – what a week to remember!