Written by Marci Greenberg Cox

In November of 2018, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer. After coming to terms with the disease with my husband, immediate family, and close friends, I was left with the daunting task of informing my daughters, who were, at the time 5 and 1 years old, of what would lie ahead for me. My stepdaughter was 15 at the time so I had the task of telling her and to begin explaining how to check her breasts.

While undergoing an aggressive course of treatment, which included a double mastectomy without reconstruction surgery, chemotherapy which resulted in complete hair loss, and everything else related to the cancer, I spoke to my daughters openly and in a way that they could understand my disease and not feel threatened about possibly losing me.  My experiences and the way I fought through the difficult days of treatment led me to write the book, “Mommy Has a Boo-Boo”, about communicating a diagnosis of cancer to my daughters and how others with the same condition can convey the ultimate message being “Mommy may look different, and it will take time for Mommy to heal – but in the end, she will get better!”

From there my oldest daughter (age 5) still had questions and didn’t like the way I looked with no hair. I decided to then write a journal to go along with the book. “Mommy Has a Boo-Boo Now What?” was created to start discussions with your child. Children are so intuitive and have so many questions. They are just as scared as you are. This journal is a coloring/discussion/answer book which can be used alongside the children’s book or on its own.

When I was first diagnosed I had so many questions and was at a loss. My next book: “The Breast Cancer GPS” takes the fear of the unknown and puts it out there. From medical history to questions to ask doctors and tips and tricks to get through treatments this is a great book for the newly diagnosed.

Follow me at www.florpublishing.com and check out my books on Amazon.

Thank you, Solis Mammography for being My Hope Bag’s newest annual sponsor. Because of you, My Hope Bag can now supply 25 women who have little or no health insurance with a life-saving breast screening mammogram.  Early detection can save your life.

Solis Mammography Phoenix offers breast screening and diagnostic 3D mammography, computer-aided detection, breast ultrasound, stereotactic breast biopsy, ultrasound-guided biopsy, and bone density scanning – all in an environment uniquely designed to promote patient peace of mind.

Their dedicated breast health experts, combined with state-of-the-art technology, deliver the exceptionally accurate results you deserve and the highest levels of accuracy within the industry.

Your screening results are an important part of your experience with Solis Mammography, which is why they make sure you receive them as quickly as possible, typically within one to two business days after your exam.

Please be diligent in regularly scheduling your annual mammogram.  If you are without health insurance or don’t have enough to schedule your mammogram, please contact My Hope Bag. Our free mammogram program can help.

Our breast cancer community lost a wonderful warrior. Deonna Jacobs passed away in January. Her love and compassion were exemplified in true fashion. Her wish was that after her passing, friends and family would donate to My Hope Bag in lieu of flowers.

Deonna Bernhardt (Jacobs)

To date, My Hope Bag has received $4500 to be used when continuing Deonna’s desire of serving women who have been subjected to the cruelness of breast cancer.  One of her friends in Florida, Amy Long, expressed wanting to keep Deonna’s memory alive and a desire to serve women in Florida through My Hope Bag.

Amy’s Tribute to Deonna–

“When I met Deonna Bernhardt (Jacobs), I quickly realized she was a caretaker and a collector of stray people. I was a shy young girl in the Air Force and watching her navigate a world I so wanted to thrive in left me awestruck.

From the reckless way she drove through the streets on base in Iraq… to the way she demanded what she needed from the people around her, Deonna wasn’t afraid of anything.  She taught me to ask for what I needed… She taught me to love fully and unconditionally… She raised me to be a much stronger version of myself than I ever would’ve been without her in my life and for that I am grateful.

Amy Long

When we found out we’d lost Deonna it was devastating. I drove straight to Arizona to see everyone and support my friends through this loss. The more I spoke to her other friends the more I learned that not only had she collected me… she had collected many others. We often do not truly know a person and the extent of their generosity until we meet the others who their service, love, and friendship has touched.

Deonna spent her entire life giving to others… helping others…  supporting, teaching, guiding, leading, and loving others. It was through Deonna that I learned about My Hope Bag and I immediately saw what she loved about it. I am grateful to Sarah and Robyn for the opportunity to carry on Deonna’s legacy of giving and loving by pulling My Hope Bag into Central Florida. Deonna would never leave anyone to fend for themselves. She pulled me along quite literally and MADE me grow up from the day she met me… and it is my hope to pull and grow My Hope Bag into Florida much the way that Deonna pulled me… out of my shell and grew me into the woman I am grateful to be today.

Deonna is still a shining light in this world… now it is just through those she influenced by knowing exactly who she was and living and loving without fear.”

Toni with mom, Sue

Amy is joined in Florida by Toni Stole, a My Hope Bag volunteer who relocated from Mesa to Melbourne, FL. Toni continues to volunteer with My Hope Bag after caring for her mother for three years following her breast cancer diagnosis. Toni says, “It is a wonderful way to let women know that they are cared about and can stay connected with an organization that supports them.”

Amy and Toni will serve women in the same manner as My Hope Bag has always done.  One difference is that the handmade bracelet shared in the bag will don a flip flop in remembrance of Deonna who was rarely seen without wearing them! If you are going through a breast cancer journey and live in Florida, please request a bag through https://www.myhopebag.org/request-a-bag/.

Written by Michelle Goss, Spirit Mountain Healing Center

As a Horse-Guided Coach, I have had the privilege of bringing horses and people together for over 30 years for the purpose of starting conversations about mental health and life issues, which in the beginning are never easy to start. This is where horses help to break down those barriers without ever saying a word. By drawing upon their unique abilities to read our body language and mirror our emotions. Learning new ways to manage anxiety, fear, grief, anger and many other emotions begins to take shape in an unparalleled way through horses.

The life-healing power horses have for humans is from the fact horses live in the present moment and do not focus on the past or the future as humans have a strong tendency to do. It is through being in the present moment that horses lend themselves as the perfect animal to help heal humans because it is in the present where healing occurs.

I have personally experienced the healing power horses have when dealing with issues of the human heart and spirit, whether it is life issues, relationship issues, grief/loss, or any other life issue. The magical power horses have to be able to “see” either what you need or to show you what you need has never stopped to amaze me even after all my years of working with horses and people. Everyone who comes to Spirit Mountain Healing Center leaves with a new perspective of horses and the power they have to heal.

This power to heal was demonstrated at the first My Hope Bag “S’mores by the Campfire” group that was held on March 13, 2021, at Spirit Mountain Healing Center. The demonstrations included having 3 people work together in an activity called the “Body and the Brain” where the three of them link arms and have to stay connected in order to complete the task. The challenge is that each “arm” can only do what the “brain” (the middle person) tells the “arm” to do. It is an activity in cooperation, communication, teamwork, and trust. I have included a picture of this activity. Now, keep in mind, there are many different types of activities that can be done and some do not actually include the horse in the actual activity. This is the best part of horse-guided coaching. Each session is individually tailored to fit each person at that time. There is absolutely no right or wrong way to do a session. It is completely up to the client and the horse. As I say, I am just the navigator in the process. It is the client who is the captain of the journey. And it is an incredible journey and the best part is you do not need any horse experience at all in order to experience the benefits of horse-guided coaching.

If you are uncertain if horse-guided coaching is the correct fit for you, check out our half-hour meet and greet session! This is a great way for you to meet the horses and experience a short horse-guided session. And if you are looking for support Spirit Mountain Healing Center now has two monthly Circle of Hope Campfire Support Groups available. One group is grief and loss and the other is COVID-related stressors such as anxiety, depression, isolation, and many other related issues. For more information or to book a session, a group, or the meet and greet, visit www.spiritmountainhealing.com.

Spirit Mountain Healing Center, where horses either give us what we need or show us what we need.