By LaToya Henry
Last week The Dallas Weekly shared my interview with Cynt Marshall, the first Black female CEO in the NBA. She recently released her first book, You’ve Been Chosen, and shared her journey overcoming the battle with colon cancer. Marshall’s personal story touched me in many ways. In 2009, our family received some devastating news. The matriarch of the Henry’s was diagnosed with stage I cancer. We decided to keep it a secret and didn’t tell many people. I think it’s because – at that time – we didn’t really know what to expect or how to feel. I remember feeling numb through the whole process. It was painful to watch the strongest person I knew, battle such an ugly disease. But God and my mother’s faith pulled her through, and she was cancer free.
A few years after having the lumpectomy surgical procedure on her breast, the doctors detected another lump. My heart was crushed. “How could this keep happening to my mom?” I was living in Dallas by this time and hopped on the next flight to Detroit to be by her side. The doctors did a biopsy and found the lump was not cancerous. Everything was all clear.
Here we are 13 years later, and mom is still cancer free. Through this journey, my mother never became defeated and always kept her faith in God. The doctors caught the cancer early and she never had to go through chemo. Mom is now a spokesperson and a big advocate for women to visit the doctor for regular checkups. Actually, I need to make my appointment before the end of the year- please don’t tell my mom!
To my mother (Marian Henry), all the survivors and every woman fighting this battle, this issue is for you. We love and support you. To the women who lost their battle, we honor you today and every day.
To our readers, please enjoy our Pink Issue and thank you for going on this journey with us. We appreciate you.
With pink hearts,
LaToya Henry
DW Editor