My name is Becky Phillips and I am a breast cancer survivor.

I found a lump in my breast four years before I was diagnosed with cancer. At the time my mammogram results did not cause concern, and it wasn’t until the lump changed that they decided to do a biopsy.

In January 2019 I was told that I had cancer. I underwent a lumpectomy, four rounds of chemo, a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. After 16 rounds of hormone therapy called Herceptin, my treatment came to an end before December 2019.

During this time I was 36 years old, married with three children ages 3, 9 and 13. When I was alone cried to myself a lot, but my diagnoses were so hopeful that I didn’t allow negative thoughts to overcome me. I had a life I wanted to live, people to live for, parents and a husband that were not going to let me give up. My support system is what got me through every step that I took and that’s how I dealt with it, one step at a time.

When flowers bloom, so does hope

As my treatment was ending, my mom volunteered to be a part of the first group of gardeners to plant flowers at the Daffodil Garden for Cancer Survivors. When I saw the picture of her there it made me so grateful for her. She has always been my rock and hero, and it was just one more thing she had done for me to help me heal. I told her I wanted to join her the next time she went, and we have been going ever since.

My daughter and friend have also joined in planting daffodils. It feels amazing to be a part of something that brings so many people together and creates a community of support and love.