Ms. April's story is lovingly sponsored by Matt and Tammy Neely
Featured Business: The Prescription Shoppe is a locally-owned, full-service pharmacy, specializing in immunizations and compounding. Having just eclipsed the four-year mark, they have been voted Best Pharmacy in Williamsburg the past three years in a row. Instead of treating their patients as customers, they treat them like family; putting an emphasis on their health and overall wellbeing.
The theme of A Calendar to Live By 2024 is to Write an Optimistic New Narrative. All 12 women who grace its pages have honest, inspiring stories written in their own words to share with readers -- as well as words of advice for other young women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Read on to get to know more about Ms. April 2024.
Janie Weeks – Ms. April | Diagnosed at 37 (2021)
Hello! I'm Janie and at 37 I was diagnosed with Stage 3 ER/PR HER2- breast cancer. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think this would be a part of my story, yet here I am. I found the cancer myself. My breast looked as if it was being pulled inward and was dimpled. I had a well exam with my PCP and three days later had my first mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy. A week later I was told 'you have cancer'. I cried. I was so scared. I didn't want to die. I've had a lumpectomy, all lymph nodes removed on my left side, an additional surgery to clear margins, 16 chemotherapy treatments, a double mastectomy with expanders, 28 rounds of radiation and finally DIEP Flap reconstruction due to a failed expander in the left breast. At 38 I was put into medically induced menopause in hopes of keeping the cancer from returning; this is done with oral medications and monthly injections. Cancer doesn't define me. I am a mother to my three greatest accomplishments, a wife to the man of my dreams, daughter to the most amazing parents, sister to my biggest advocate, beloved granddaughter, favored niece, aunt to four additional blessings, friend to so many and a SURVIVOR!
MY WORD: I AM RESILIENCE.