Maimah

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On February 28, 2006, at 4:45 p.m., I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. I was devastated. I had no family history of breast cancer; I was 32-years old. Born in Liberia, West Africa, I had survived three coup d’etats in my native country. My family came to the United States with one suitcase each. We had lost everything in the war. It had taken me 15 years to build a life for myself. I was just beginning to enjoy the fruits of my labor. I had been doing all the right things – exercising and eating healthy. I didn’t fit the profile. I was raising a beautiful 3 year old daughter. How could this have happened to me? I didn't know but I knew that my life would never be the same again.
The concept of Tigerlily came about after I had been given my second chemotherapy treatment. I laid in bed, feverish, aching, exhausted and overwhelmed by the enormity of my diagnosis.
Sick and tired of being sick and tired, I began praying to God to get me through the chemotherapy and use my life for his purpose. After a particularly rough day, as I fell asleep, I prayed that God would restore me in spirit and that his will be done with my life. I woke up the next morning refreshed. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest. I knew that whether or not I survived six months, five years or 60 years, I would live each day to the fullest. I felt an excitement, purpose and resolve that I never had before. Most of all, I found myself humbled by grace and thankful for all the blessings in my life. I was thankful that my life would never be the same again; cancer has given me something I've never had before. My feet are now on solid ground.
Soon, I began writing my story and could not stop. I began to reach out to any organization that worked to empower women, particularly to breast cancer organizations.
I am a member of the Young Survival Coalition's Diversity Outreach Committee, working to reach diverse populations of women affected by breast cancer; and a Breast Health Advocate for Y-ME, educating organizations about breast health.
As of September 2007, I will be a Graduate of NBCC's Project L.E.A.D ®, a program of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, that "provides a foundation of scientific knowledge on which participants can strengthen and empower themselves as activists".
I am also active within the medical community, and participate in key breast health conferences including the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) (http://www.sabcs.org/), the National Breast Cancer Coalition (www.stopbreastcancer.org), and the Young Survival Coalition (www.youngsurvival.org).
In October 2007, I became an on-line correspondent for Fox 5 DC's on-line community, MyVOICEDC.com. Follow me every week, as I discuss various issues relating to breast health on this site.