When the week finally came and we were escorted to the house that would be ours for the week, I cried, utterly overwhelmed by what lay before us.
Susan Barry
2023 Participant/Breast Cancer Survivor
Emerald Isle, NC
Apparently, my daughter had been submitting my name to Little Pink for a few years without telling me. She found out that my name had been selected as we were checking into a hotel in Boston to visit the Dana Farber Institute for a second opinion following regarding yet another breast cancer diagnosis. That already felt like a little kiss from God.
She explained it to me as a breast cancer retreat and, to be honest, I couldn’t get my head around why she thought her 16-year-old son would want to participate in a weeklong breast cancer retreat with grandma. Retreats I have been to in the past were very structured and very focused on a theme. I envisioned meetings and workshops, and I wasn’t even sure about it myself. That’s because I had the whole wrong idea. As we found out more about the organization and the week planned for us we couldn’t wait to go. When the week finally came and we were escorted to the house that would be ours for the week, I cried, utterly overwhelmed by what lay before us – the gift of this fabulous house right on the sound, with a fully stocked refrigerator, and a countertop full of gifts for each of us. That was just the beginning. There wasn’t a day that we didn’t feel the love through food provided for us or activities planned, with participation being completely optional.
The only time that breast cancer was a focus at all was just for the survivors for a precious time of connection at the beginning of the week. The rest of the week was full of love, lots of things for families to do, and lots of space for each person and family to choose how to spend their time.
The volunstars and the community that fed us, housed and loved us were amazing.
My daughter knew that I would never have submitted my name myself. Like so many others, I would have thought what a lovely thing that would be for somebody who needed it, but I wouldn’t put myself in that category. I still don’t know if I “needed” it, but there isn’t a shred of doubt that I was refreshed, strengthened, encouraged, loved and bolstered during that week, as were my daughter and my two grandchildren.
All four of us were so blown away and so blessed, that we are all hoping to be volunteers ourselves at some point.
Thank you Little Pink. My family and I love you!