Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Our Family’s Journey and a Call for Action

As many of you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's a time to shine a pink spotlight on this disease and the importance of early detection. Breast Cancer affects 1 in 8 women during their lifetime and was the most common cancer diagnosis worldwide in 2020. For Mowers And More, breast cancer isn’t just a distant statistic; it’s a deeply personal reality that has profoundly shaped our lives especially in the last year.

The last 12 months have been especially challenging for Kevin & Victoria, and their team. Many challenges from a post-pandemic business world are still impacting Mowers And More as well as most small businesses. 

In September 2023 Victoria’s grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Again. 27 years after her initial battle. To say “shocked” would be an understatement. Grandma, in her 70s now, had been in remission for nearly three decades. Victoria's grandma and family has been rocking the pink ribbons and actively involved in bread cancer causes for almost 30 years already. We thought the door had closed on grandma's breast cancer past. 

Imaging and biopsies brought worse news, she would be switched from “survivor” to “patient” all over again. It wasn’t just one cancer, but bilateral (in both breasts) and involved two different types: a less aggressive “ER-positive” AND an aggressive type of “triple-negative.” Wow! Not only was grandma facing the fight again, but she was dealt a double whammy this time.

Over the past year, Kevin & Victoria leaned in fully. All available resources went into supporting grandma’s treatment so she didn’t need to focus on logistics. Of which there are far too many for any one person to be dealing with-- let alone a senior about to battle cancer a second time in her lifetime. 

As expected, a whirlwind of appointments followed. There were multiple surgeries, hospital stays, chemotherapy, IV antibiotics, office visits, and at home care. Grandma absolutely had the worst of it, though if she was telling you about it she would say how hard it was for Victoria & Kevin. That they continued to show up for their employees and customers despite having a full time job taking care of her. The truth is they know how hard it was on her and would have traded places in an instant if they could have because they know they got the easy end of the stick all things considered.

Kevin would typically hold down the fort at the shop during the day and Victoria would typically follow up on the day’s tasks in the evening after taking grandma to appointments and treatments during the day. When treatments and procedures got really intense, Victoria would often be answering calls and providing instructions and troubleshooting over the phone in-between appointments or in hospital hallways. It was by no means efficient, but it was good enough. Just keeping the lights on and getting paychecks out to the team was a win in their book. Kevin & Victoria would pep each other up with some go-to phrases when the stress of trying to get everyone what they needed... "Life is too short", and "this is why we work so hard... so when we need to take care of family we can" and on days that seemed impossible "it's just grass" with a nervous smile, were frequently rehashed for perspective. It didn't always help, but in this case it was the thought that counted.

As Grandma’s caregivers, Kevin & Victoria had to balance the complexities of her care with keeping their team going so they could continue to support their own families and our customers. There were moments of complete exhaustion, fear, and overwhelming stress. The emotional and physical toll of supporting a loved one through cancer, while also managing the day-to-day demands of running a business, has been intense. Victoria has often remarked that she has no idea how patients go through this journey alone. And she did meet some incredibly strong patients who were doing this alone or mostly alone. These people filled with courage in the most incomprehensible circumstances inspired Victoria so that she could continue to be a source of strength for her grandma. Complete (formerly) strangers who always had a smile despite seemingly  insurmountable odds ahead of them. It put it all into perspective really quick. Kevin and Victoria know how fortunate they are. Being self-employed gave them the flexibility to be there for grandma when she needed them, something not everyone has the luxury to do. 

 

But none of this has been easy, and they certainly didn’t do it alone. The support from family, their team, wonderful people they have met along this journey, and loyal customers has been the lifeline that kept them going… both personally and professionally. Every time you choose to support a small business like ours, you’re not just helping keep the lights on, you’re allowing them to be there for their loved ones in times like this. You're also helping them offer that same flexibility to their employees, who are regarded as family. We know we're not the only small business that feels this way about their community and team. But we speak for ourselves, and in the case of Mowers And More, we cannot thank you enough. 

Today, Victoria’s grandma is technically in remission! She will continue complementary therapies to help prevent a recurrence (this will start as 5 years of treatment and then will be reevaluated). It was not an easy path for her, but she keeps her head up and her faith strong. There’s still a slew of appointments, but life has -mostly- returned to a new normal for her. There’s a lot of challenges that cancer presents post-treatment, but she’s feeling much better and that is a step in the right direction! 

This family’s journey doesn’t stop with Victoria’s grandmother. Breast cancer has touched several women in our family, some who weren’t as fortunate. It also continues to affect those we care about. In 2024 year, two of our friends were diagnosed with breast cancer. It’s a harsh reminder that this disease can strike anyone at any time.

This is why Kevin and Victoria are so passionate about raising awareness, encouraging early screenings, and doing what they can to contribute to the fight against breast cancer. Kevin & Victoria and their family have always supported Breast Cancer awareness causes but this year we’re bringing our whole community in on it.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Kevin & Victoria are bringing their customers along this journey, Mowers And More will be donating 10% of earnings from all October invoices to breast cancer organizations right here in the Hudson Valley. Clients won’t need to do anything extra. All invoice dates in October will count. This is their way of giving back and standing in solidarity with everyone affected by this disease, both patients as well as families, in our community. They believe that together, we can win this fight if we focus on the importance of access to regular screenings, genetic testing when appropriate, and self-exams for early detection. Knowing your risk and getting the proper screenings regularly can save your life.

Early detection is crucial. Make that appointment. According to the CDC, mammograms and breast self-exams can save lives by catching cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages. If you're due for a screening, please pick up the phone and make that appointment today.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Your support means the world to Kevin, Victoria, Grandma, their family, and everyone here at Mowers And More!

Your support always has a ripple effect far beyond what you see from the parts counter.

Together we can continue to support our community, raise awareness, and fight breast cancer…one step at a time.