The P-I-G: Episode #19
Honoring Marsha’s Legacy: Two Sisters Reflect on Breast Cancer Awareness
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month — and for us, it means so much more than pink ribbons and reminders. It’s about honoring the woman who gave us life — our mom, Marsha — and the three cancer journeys she walked with bravery, humor, beauty, and an unshakable will to live.
Her first diagnosis came at 35, when she was raising two girls seven years apart and working in public radio. After a brutal mastectomy and chemo in the 1980s, she found remission, then love, and a new chapter of laughter and life. Years later, another tumor appeared—and she faced radiation with the same determination. Eventually, metastasis came quickly, taking her eyesight and strength but never her spirit.
Even as her time grew short, Mom’s focus was on living. She prepared “The Boxes”—letters, gifts, and keepsakes for the years she wouldn’t see—so her love kept showing up exactly when we needed it most. Thirty-one years later, those boxes are still teaching us what legacy really means.
Grief shaped us differently. One of us was the caretaker, the other the rebel. For years, we misunderstood each other’s survival strategies—but this project, and this podcast, brought us back together. Through conversation, coaching, and compassion, we learned that forgiveness often starts with better translation: seeing each other through the lens of love, not loss.
🎙️ In this deeply personal episode, we:
Honor our mom’s three cancer journeys and the lessons she left behind
Reflect on how grief, time, and truth helped us reconnect as sisters
Share the story of “The Boxes” — her living legacy of love and letters
Talk openly about body image, humor, and dignity through illness
Offer practical reminders about mammograms, self-exams, and prevention
Recognize caregivers and loved ones who walk beside the fight
Reflect on how Purpose, Intention, and Gratitude continue to guide us every day
Breast cancer awareness should be more than pink. It’s action, reflection, and a promise — to care for ourselves, support others, and live intentionally. Because legacy isn’t what we leave behind. It’s how we live, love, and show up right now.
Resources & References
American Cancer Society – Breast Cancer Information & Support
National Breast Cancer Foundation – Early Detection & Education
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Breast Cancer Facts
Susan G. Komen Foundation – Mammogram & Financial Assistance Programs
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) – For Caregivers
Western Colorado Resources:
St. Mary’s Cancer Center or the Grand Junction SCL Health Mammography Center: Advanced oncology services, screenings, mammograms, resources, and patient support.
Community Hospital Cancer Center & Mammography: Comprehensive cancer care, mammography, and screening programs for women and men in western Colorado.
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💗 From Our Hearts to Yours…
“Hearing the stories of others helps us create a more meaningful connection to our own—because legacy isn’t just what we leave behind, it’s how we live right now.”
The P-I-G is a heartfelt, purpose-driven podcast exploring life, love, loss, and legacy through raw, real, and resonant conversations with everyday people and extraordinary guests. Together, we unpack the moments that shape us—the stories we carry, the messiness of being human, and what it means to leave something meaningful behind.
Each episode invites us to:
Honor what matters most
Remember that grief isn’t linear
Navigate life’s hardest moments with PURPOSE, INTENTION, and GRATITUDE
And to be reminded that legacy isn’t just what we leave… it’s how we live—right now.
