Kathleen Massey
2020 Participant/Breast Cancer Survivor
Myrtle Beach, SC

On November 1, 2019, my life changed forever when I was diagnosed with stage 3c triple negative breast cancer at the age of 57. I have always been very healthy so this was a complete shock. I have been a single mom to 4 daughters for 17 years and the thought of leaving them terrifies me. They have been there for me from day 1. They came to many appointments and chemo treatments and took care of me after my double mastectomy and during 5 weeks of radiation.

The year took a toll on all of us, physically and emotionally. Shortly after diagnosis I applied for the Little Pink retreat and then kind of forgot all about it. When I received word that I had been selected for the Myrtle Beach retreat during covid, my first thought was no way we’ll get to go. But my 4 daughters and their spouses were all able to take a week off work and the grandkids off school which is a true miracle! So off the 9 of us went for a week of fun, relaxation and rejuvenation.

From the minute we checked in we were treated like royalty. Gift bags, gift cards, free activities, golf carts…you name it. Even a dinner delivered to our house the first night after a long day of traveling. We were given a fabulous 6 bedroom house with a lake view to stay in. It was so inspiring to meet the fellow survivors at the breakfast. What a strong, brave group of women who have had their lives turned upside down with breast cancer. I saw many of them during the week and they looked so happy and relaxed just as we were.

We needed this respite even more than we knew. We laughed, we rested, we ate well, we swam in the ocean, we basked in the sun, we painted ceramics and more. Thank you so much to LPHOH and all of the donors who made this possible. I retire soon and would love to volunteer for this organization in the near future. What a blessing they are. Thank you!!