GAZELLE MAGAZINE JUNE 2018 | Page 88

WELLNESS & WELL-BEING
JUST A MOM DESTROYING CANCER NATASHA FOGARTY
For Natasha Fogarty , her last chemotherapy treatment marked the beginning of being free of breast cancer . That was Dec . 6 , 2016 .
She was just 29 years old , with a 4-month-old baby boy when she was told she had invasive ductal carcinoma , grade 3 .
Fogarty found a lump in her breast when she was eight-and-ahalf months pregnant , but thought it was her milk coming in . Her baby was born , and she began breast feeding . Then she had her doctor ’ s appointment ; the lump was still there . After an ultrasound , mammogram and MRI , she got the news : She had breast cancer .
When she and her husband , Jimmy , met with her surgeon , they were told that the MRI results indicated that the cancer was considered Stage II .
“ My doctor said , ‘ You will not die from this … but we still have to act fast in treatment .’ This was pending the results of my lymph node tests , which would take place during surgery ,” Fogarty said .
“ But my stress of the unknown went away , and we could focus on getting it out of there . It was big - 4.5 centimeters - like a walnut or golf ball . It was crazy big and didn ’ t spread . My doctor even seemed surprised ,” she said .
After her surgery , she underwent a series of chemotherapy treatments , and has since had full reconstruction of her right breast .
“ My life has changed so much since breast cancer ,” she said . “ I see life so differently . I spend more time than ever with the people I love . My son , Milo , turned 2 in January , and I want to spend as much time with him as I can .
“ It is rare to come out of breast cancer more positive , but I did . Everything happened at the right time ,” she added .
Friends donated breast milk for Milo until he was 1 year old . Her husband was able to take off work for six weeks during her surgery . And most important , during chemo , Milo was not mobile yet . He started walking on Dec . 7 - the day after her last treatment .
“ I could have never done chemo with a toddler . God ’ s plan makes sense . I am beyond blessed to be here , and I will not take any moment for granted ,” Fogarty said .
She was recently chosen to receive an all-expense-paid trip for her and her husband to St . John in the U . S . Virgin Islands , through the organization Little Pink Houses of Hope , which provides getaways for breast cancer patients and their families to
Natasha Fogarty and her husband , Jimmy , on the island of St . John reconnect and recharge . “ I was blessed to be picked by a panel to go with seven other women ,” she said .
During her cancer journey , Fogarty quit her career in retail to stay home , where she now works selling LuLaRoe clothing . Every month , she donates 5 percent of sales to a different woman who is battling breast cancer .
Fogarty documented her treatment and recovery experience on her personal blog at justamomdestroyingcancer . com .
Top photo by Anne Bequette , STJ Creative Photography . Opposite page : Photo by Allen B . Thompson , Ag Photography
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