Tami & Judy Kroh

York County

The winners of the Pretty in PinkWeekend “Makeover forMom” contest, Tami Kroh of Shrewsbury and her mother Judy of York, are both breast cancer survivors.

Tami’s Story

A year and a half after being diagnosed with chronic leukemia, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was January 2005, one week before my 33rd birthday.

I had been having pain in my breast and went to the doctor. An aunt, my dad’s sister, had breast cancer when she was 39 years old, so because of that family history the doctor sent me for a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound. The tests came back negative, but a month later I was still having pain and I examined my breast and found the lump. And it was huge! I went to see one of my ob/gyn doctors who did a full breast exam and found it. He sent me directly to the surgeon who did an ultrasound and this time the lump showed up.

I had a lumpectomy, 4 rounds of chemotherapy and then 32 weeks of radiation treatment. My mom went with me to every chemotherapy treatment. My sister lived in Cleveland and drove in to go to a chemo treatment with me. My boyfriend took good care of me, making me special meals. I was working as a patient care secretary for the visiting nurses at Wellspan Home Health & Hospice, and they supported me 100%, giving me time off whenever I needed it. They held a special “hat day” for me, and those who wore a hat to work in my honor posed for a group picture.

Tami’s Poem Mothers are special; there is no doubt about that Always doing for the family, ever changing their hat Keeping strong in a tender, loving way Ever encouraging you, sometimes without any words to say Only unconditional love she gives Very few “thank yous” are said in the time she lives Expressing my thoughts in 250 words or less Recognizing my mom’s greatness is easy, I must confess Five years ago, this June, I was diagnosed with CML One and a half years later, a victim to breast cancer I fell Realizing she was helpless in all I’d been given My mom was there through it all, trying hard to keep her emotions hidden Only eight months after my chemo and radiation came to an end My mom’s younger sister announced breast cancer she had to defend Cancer of the breast struck my mom too you see Only 2 months after her sister, it was going backwards through the family tree Now two years are approaching with no cancer Total positive attitude and the power of God is the answer Encouragement and strength is what my mom has taught me She constantly gives herself freely, that’s what I also strive to be To show my appreciation, I write this small token All with my heart I have spoken Never could I ask for a better, more compassionate mother This award would be a gift to her, a deserving gift like no other

I finished treatment at the end of the summer of 2005. Then in March 2006, my mom’s younger sister in Kentucky was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her two daughters called me to ask what they could expect. I went down to be with her for her surgery. My being there put my cousins and my uncle at ease.

I was barely back from Kentucky when my mom was diagnosed two months after my aunt. We were becoming professionals at going through this. It was hardly what we wanted to become professionals at!

When I was first diagnosed, I picked up a brochure about the PBCC and soon after that I bought the pink ribbon awareness license plate for my new car. When I read about the Makeover for Mom contest in Pink Link, I thought winning that would be a great way to thank my mom for all she’s done for me. I’m very grateful that she was selected as the winner.

Judy’s Story

Tami’s poem pretty much tells our family history. Sometimes I think that we’re going backwards through the family tree with breast cancer. We are all on extra alert. I had pain in my breast before any other symptoms, just like Tami. My breast cancer was probably detected months earlier because I advocated for myself and got an ultrasound and a second opinion.

Watching Tami go through breast cancer was harder than going through it myself. When I was diagnosed, I thought about how sometimes things come in 3’s. Tami had had cancer twice, and so I thought if my cancer was the third, I’ll take it rather than see my daughter go through it again. Tami was the best support I could have asked for. I looked at her and thought if my child can do this, so can I.

I had two surgeries and radiation, and I will be on Arimidex as maintenance for at least five years.

Advice from Tami & Judy

We want to tell each and every woman to be her own advocate. You must know your own body and if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. And you have to wake up every day and make it your best!