Maria's Story

Thursday, July 31, those at the Pink Party Networking Happy Hour held at the Bitter End in the Gaslamp Quarter, were witness to one of those special moments that silence a room and galvanize the moment in our hearts. One of our guest speakers, Maria, with a soft, trembling Hispanic accented voice, took the microphone from her friend of 15 years and a Pink Party volunteer, and began to tell her story. At 35, she found a lump while doing self-examination. For five years the lump was double and triple checked by two separate doctors and misdiagnosed as a mere cyst. Now at age 40, the cyst has been properly diagnosed as Stage 4 Breast Cancer. Having spread untreated over the years from her breast into her shoulder and part of her neck, she is has a 30% survival rate - yet is delaying treatment upon hearing even more news…

At this time, with the capacity crowd silent, Maria wept openly and thanked the Pink Party for giving her the support and courage to finally share her story with others.

Maria continued speaking of the tests required before starting chemotherapy, of the sonogram that discovered that, despite having had her tubes tied 12 years earlier, that she was pregnant! Through the tears, she spoke to the crowd of her fears, of not knowing where to turn and how hard life has been – but of her decision to delay her cancer treatment until her baby is born. Scheduled for Cesarean Section on August 11, 2008, cancer surgery on the 18th, followed by aggressive Chemotherapy, this soon-to-be mother faces dramatic challenges – but no longer will she face it alone. Every heart in the room was touched by her story. After Maria could no longer speak, Marshella, the representative of the San Diego chapter of the Breast Cancer Network of Strength, expressed “that Maria and her story are empowering examples of those whom her organization, and the Pink Party, directly support.”

Now in its third year, The 2008 Pink Party is one of San Diego’s premiere events to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer (www.pinkpartysd.com). Directly benefiting the Breast Cancer Fund (www.breastcancerfund.com), the leading national organization working solely on eliminating the environmental and other preventable causes of the disease, and The Breast Cancer Network of Strength (formally Y-Me) (www.networkofstrength.org), which offers comprehensive support to those newly diagnosed, survivors, their families and loved ones, ensuring no one faces breast cancer alone.

However, this type of success is only possible due to the support of our sponsors. The 2008 Pink Party being proudly hosted by FIT Athletic Club and Event Center, located at 350 10th Avenue, San Diego CA 92101 (www.fitathletic.com) on November 15th, this 40,000 sqf. Gaslamp location, overlooking PetCo Park, will be San Diego’s premier place to party Vegas Style! With 2,000 guests expected, the 2008 Pink Party can only bring positive publicity to your company. This year, join in with Cirque du Soleil, Aim to Simplify, The Del Mar Marriott and Snow Queen Vodka in sponsoring the 2008 Pink Party. For more information and to appreciate the scope of The Pink Party, visit its website, www.pinkpartysd.com.