Ms. December's story is lovingly sponsored by Debbie Martin
Featured Business: Column 15 offers a line of locally roasted coffee products that are uncompromising in quality by making the decision to only provide freshly roasted, single-origin, fair-trade, organically-sourced coffees.
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. December 2024.
Porsche Richardson – Ms. December | Diagnosed at 44 (2022)
11/3/2022 was the day my life turned on its head. I received a call from the doctor stating “you have breast cancer”. Time stopped and the wind was knocked out of me. I was healthy and my daughters had just begun spreading their wings. I had so much to live for. I was more petrified of the effects this disease could have on my daughter's futures than I was for myself. Everything moved at lightning speed - appointments, tests, and scans. I had no time to digest the diagnosis or say goodbye to a part of my body before surgery day...a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. I researched this process but had no real idea what to expect. The results showed a micrometastases and skin cancer in my left breast. Four weeks post bilateral mastectomy I had a partial mastectomy with lymph node dissection. I felt defeated and anxious, my body had already been through a lot, and I was now back at square one. Throughout this journey I gained strength, bonded with some amazing women, and have more love and support than I'd ever imagined. I learned how incredibly strong, brave, resilient, loved, and blessed I truly am. Cancer taught me it is okay to put myself first, to lean on others when needed, there is so much in life to be grateful for and to not only live but to LIVE.
MY WORD: I AM REVELATION