My family is originally from Jamaica, and we migrated to the United States when I was just 5 years old. Growing up, we lived in very humble beginnings.

My mom, Laline (pictured), was a single mother raising four young children on her own. She struggled to make ends meet and ensure our bare necessities were met. In the midst of this, her own well-being often took a backseat.

She missed regular doctor visits and, more importantly, mammogram screenings, even though her own mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away unexpectedly. Later in life, my mom was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer, and, similar to her mother, she passed away shortly after her diagnosis.

Looking back now as an adult, I often wonder if she might still be with us today had she undergone regular mammograms. Though I’ll never know the answer, this question has driven me to promote breast cancer awareness and the importance of early detection.

Let’s all come together to fight breast cancer, one life at a time!