For My Mother, and for Every Woman We Love
October brings pink ribbons to our streets, but for me, this month brings memories.
Before my mother passed, she was a breast cancer survivor. I still remember the quiet courage in her eyes, the heavy worry that settled over our home, and the deep gratitude for every single tomorrow we were blessed to share with her. I lived through that fight beside her. I know the weight a diagnosis places on a family, and I know that early detection was the gift that bought us precious time, laughter, and love.
In the Virgin Islands, breast cancer touches far too many of our households. Behind every number is a mother, a grandmother, a daughter, a sister, or a lifelong friend—the women who carry our homes and anchor our community.
No woman should ever have to pack a suitcase, board a plane, or leave her support system behind to get the advanced care she deserves. That is why fighting to bring state-of-the-art 3D digital mammography to all hospitals in the territory is so deeply personal to me. Finding cancer early changes everything—it turns fear into hope, and hope into survival.
To every woman across our islands: your life is a blessing, and your health is sacred. Please do not put yourself last.
Talk with your doctor.
Know your family history.
If you are due for a mammogram, make the appointment today.
And to the families who love them: walk with them, remind them, and support them every step of the way.
For our mothers. For our daughters. For every tomorrow yet to come.
Early detection saves lives.
