Melissa Cumberbatch
2022 Participant/Breast Cancer Survivor
Orange Beach, AL

I was diagnosed with breast cancer Sep 2021, and that changed my life to an extent. As the first one in my family to be diagnosed and as a single parent, I had no time to dwell on this illness. I had to set my emotions aside and get myself together as quickly as possible to get back to my daughter. I had surgery, and from there it was a roller-coaster, one that I wanted to get off. In the past, whenever I heard about cancer, I heard about surgery and chemotherapy but never heard about all the other moving parts such as radiation, long-term treatment, the thoughts of not being able to have another child, fertility treatment, etc., but this was my experience. Fast forward I was out of work, and my nurse navigator sent me some grants, and upon doing my own research, came across little pink. From there it was something I couldn’t imagine happening. The retreat was an experience of a lifetime. When I was contacted by little pink, I thought that it was fake, but upon accepting the invite, I could not believe what was ahead. The week was amazingly wonderful, from the strong faith everyone exuded to the Volunstar team who was phenomenal, compassionate, caring, and thoughtful. The list can go on and on, but I couldn’t ask for a better team. To the properties that were astonishing and beautiful, the strangers who became friends and connected through health, family bonds that were strengthed through this retreat. The photoshoot will be a long-lasting memory and overall retreat. The retreat brought out lots of emotions happiness, tears(yes we shed some tears), delight, etc. everything was beyond amazing, and I couldn’t ask for a better week