By: Jenna Rehnstrom
jrehnstrom@kcautv.com
There's a special bond that only sisters share. It was a promise between sisters that began a world–wide movement against breast cancer called "Susan G. Komen for the Cure." And, it was a similar pledge that spurred Stephanie Myres into action after losing her own sister to breast cancer.
Now, she's turning grief into action. In memory of a woman gone from her life far too soon.
The pain is still so fresh. But then, maybe it always will be for Stephanie Myres. How do you put into words what a sister means?
"I would've done anything for it to be me instead of her. I lived a full life; I'd had kids, I'd been married, I'd done all those things and she never got to do anything like that and I think that's an experience that she completely deserves – to be able to walk down the aisle and to hold her own child and do all those things."
Theresa has only been gone since June. Not even a year to process what happened or why a 32 year old woman – with so much life ahead of her – was taken by breast cancer.
"And I remember her coming over and sitting on my couch and telling me she had a lump, and [I said] 'you're fine, it's just a lump, people get them and you'll be fine.'"
Theresa Myres was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer – an extremely aggressive form – when she was just 28 years old.
And, while it's that pain that brings tears to Stephanie's eyes... so many good memories of her sister, bring laughter.
"The moments I miss her the most are just random things that make me think of her..."
... like shopping at Old Navy. Silly pictures. Guitar hero.
And the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure that they did together – just before Theresa passed away.
"Last year, we pushed her for the 5K – the whole course – there was my aunt and my daughter and cousins pushing her up the hill in a little train, and she was wearing her pink wig and she decorated her little wheelchair – it was just a lot of fun. And she was still positive and optimistic at that time. No one knew she wouldn't be there less than a month from then."
That memory – is why Stephanie is turning heartache, into determination – to help others through her volunteer work as director of this year's Race for the Cure.
And, while the draw of the Race is the fun and the fanfare and the pink, Stephanie also knows what so many other families do. That too many women still die from breast cancer.
"That just has to be something we focus on: 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime and those statistics are just too high."
It's why hundreds of people line the streets of downtown Sioux City each May.
It's why "Theresa's Troops" pushed their inspiration across the finish line last year.
And it's why this sister is doing her part to reach a profound goal…
"I just want her memory to live on and I want to honor her with the work that I'm doing."
… a world without breast cancer.
