“Hi, my name is Doris. I have been working at Gadue's Dry Cleaning for seven years. I work at the plant located in the Creek Farm Plaza in Colchester. As you are all aware October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Being a survivor I was asked to write for our newsletter.
In August of 2009, I was encouraged by my daughter to get a mammogram. After a few visits to Fletcher Allen for what we thought was a cyst, they did a biopsy in November only to find out I had stage two breast cancer. This was devastating news. With the support of my companion Craig, my three daughters, my employers and co-workers, I was able to work through this and so far have beat it. I could not have done this without all the help I received.
I talked to my employer Aline about my time. You see, I only had two sick days left to take. One of my co-workers offered to donate a sick day to me. Aline sent out a letter to the whole staff, and many of them then donated some of their own sick days to me. Gadue's Dry Cleaning matched each of these days with two additional days, therefore increasing the sick days I had. With not having to worry about missing time from work, for which I am very grateful, I was able to concentrate on getting through treatment. That's where Craig and my daughters came in. I never went to a treatment alone. I encourage anyone going through this to talk to their employers, family and friends. Let them help you in any way they can, even if it's as little a thing as making you dinner after a treatment.
The theme for Breast Cancer Awareness Month is Hope. My hope for anyone going through what I have gone through is to keep the faith. The American Cancer Society is making great strides in the fight against breast cancer and they are doing wonderful things as far as treatment goes.
In closing I would just like to say Thank You to everyone who helped me through this time, and say again to anyone going through this 'Chin-Up' and I hope it goes as well for you as it did for me.”
Doris
