Fighting breast cancer one chocolate at a time

In July of 2000 I thought my world was just about perfect! I was 47 years old and happy with life. I had a new job, a new man in my life, a new car, a new home and my daughter was only three hours away in her junior year of college -- Little did I know that was all about to change. In August of 2000 I heard the words that no one wants to hear: "You have cancer."

During a routine mammogram I was told I had an area of concern that may be a small cancer. After a biopsy, and later a lumpectomy, my physicians discovered a large aggressive cancer. The cancer had spread to the lymph nodes and chest wall. That's when life became a blur. Had the cancer spread even further? There was additional testing. Then more doctor's office visits: oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists and the beginning of aggressive chemotherapy followed by the dreaded hair loss! Two months later, on October 10th, I went in for a mastectomy, then additional chemotherapy and thirty-five radiation treatments. At that point I had to remember the old saying, "When life hands you lemons...make lemonade!" I had to face this disease head on and stay positive!

While trying to come to grips with all of this I learned there were people much worse off than me. One day during treatment my oncology nurses explained that there were women that had no medical insurance for mammograms and did not qualify for free mammograms due to age or income guidelines. What if I had not had insurance for my routine mammogram that year? Would I have fallen between the cracks of this grave injustice? I knew at that point I wanted to raise money to help women whose circumstances prevented them from receiving the essential preventive medical care. You see, a mammogram not only saved my life, but my Mom's life five years prior.

During treatment I ate my Mom's scalloped potatoes, watermelon and an occasional bite of chocolate. I know that sounds like an odd combination, but it was the only foods that agreed with me and chemo! Well, my background had been in retail pretty much all of my life. I thought, "Why not make products that made people happy, and at the same time, raise proceeds to assist women?" I felt I had a very limited audience for potatoes or watermelon, but who doesn't like chocolate! I thought about the different ways chocolate could be used to help raise money for breast cancer. There are thousands of fundraisers nation wide that could use the chocolates at luncheons and dinners as a party favor to the guests. There are millions of people affected by breast cancer that could use the joy brought about by the gift of chocolates. So my business was born.

Now we needed a name. I wanted to use the word "pink" because of its association with the breast cancer ribbon color. We struggled for days. No name! My fiancé (now husband) and I sat in a meeting one day discussing the name issue. Nothing popped. After much frustration, I left for one of my treatments. Later that day he called me at the hospital to tell me he had found a name for the business. He explained that when he returned to his office that cold January day he discovered a pink ladybug on his desk! "How odd," he thought, "He had never seen a pink ladybug in the dead of winter."

My treatment was ending in March and all I talked about was "Spring" because I wanted a new lease on life -- a rebirth. Much to our surprise the pink ladybug was listed as the overseer of the Spring garden. She also stood for re-birth! We decided at that time that this was a sign from someone much bigger than the two of us. We also felt it important to separate "Lady" from ladybug to give the proper focus on women. That's how Pink Lady Bug Designs was named.

I decided recently that the ladybug should have a name, so I named her Lily. In each box of chocolates we will have the story of Lily and she will tell women how important it is to get mammograms and remind everyone to tell their loved ones to do the same.

Early detection is the key!

Most Sincerely,

Linda Herter