Daryn is coming to town
Daryn Kagan will be in Dayton on Nov. 17 for a Junior League of Dayton Town Hall Lecture and Luncheon. For ticket information, go online to www.juniorleaguetownhall.eventbrite.com.
Excuse me while I take a moment to feel my boobies.
Too much information?
Actually, information is exactly what I’m looking for. I’ve heard the message about the importance of breast self-examination since seventh-grade health class. And now, as the daughter of a breast cancer survivor, that kind of information is all the more important to me.
The message really hit home again when I met Leigh Hurst, who has quite the story about boobies, saving your own life, and taking something you would never pick to happen to you and seeing a gift.
Leigh was living a fun, fast-paced life back in 2003 when she found a suspicious area in her breast. She had to be insistent with doctors who didn’t think it was anything. After all, here was a young healthy woman, an avid runner, with no family history of the disease. Unfortunately, Leigh’s instincts proved true. She had breast cancer.
Really? Breast cancer was not what this 33-year-old vibrant woman had in her plans. Luckily, she was surrounded by family and friends who wanted to know what they could do to support her.
Leigh had one request above all others for her friends. “You guys,” she implored, “please feel your boobies.” Yes, there was girlfriend humor in there, but the message was clear and so important. Knowing your own body can save your life. It certainly saved Leigh’s. As she healed she became passionate about getting young women familiar and comfortable with their bodies and breast health.
She and her friends had some special T-shirts made up for a breast cancer walk. “Feel Your Boobies,” the pink T-shirts read. It seemed every other step someone was asking, “Where can I get that shirt?”
“There’s something here,” Leigh noticed, as the Feel Your Boobies Foundation was born. Leigh quit her fast-paced, high-flying New York City job and moved back to her small town. She runs her foundation out of her garage with its walls now painted pink.
This, however, is no small-time operation. It’s become so much more than just a funny slogan. Leigh is focused on reaching women under 40 who probably have yet to have a mammogram. They are their own best, and sometimes only, detection system.
FYB is in the midst of a Twitter “remind-a-thon” where they’re reminding one million people to feel their boobies.
It’s funny how things work out. “Breast cancer is actually one of the best things that ever happened to me,” Leigh shared with me. Seems odd to say, perhaps, but Leigh points out this journey has brought her purpose — helping to save the lives of young women. It brought her home, where she met the man who is now her husband.
On that note, this journey has brought her yet another huge joy. It’s called, “Feel your baby.” Yes, this Don’t Bet Against Her survivor shows us there is life after breast cancer. Literally. She gave birth to baby Eli earlier this year.
It’s a journey that all began when Leigh Hurst felt her boobies.
Now what was that you were saying about too much information?
Daryn Kagan is the creator of DarynKagan.com. She is the author of “What’s Possible! 50 True Stories of People Who Dared To Dream They Could Make a Difference.”
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