A Silent Hero in My Life: Lois

They say that the universe puts people in your path just when you need them. Some come and go, while others arrive at exactly the right time. For me, that person was Lois. She was the first person I met through the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition as a new survivor – and she became a quiet but powerful hero in my life.

Being diagnosed with breast cancer at 44, otherwise healthy and active, was a shock. From diagnosis to my reconstructive surgery, only a few months passed - a single season, a quarter of a year. It was a blur. Everyone kept telling me how strong I was, while I tried to show gratitude and convince myself I was “good.” In truth, I hadn’t had a chance to feel or process anything. Then Lois came into my life.

I saw that the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition was looking for volunteers. Like many survivors, I felt an overwhelming gratitude to be alive and wanted to ‘earn’ my survivorship – to validate why I was given a second chance. I reached out to volunteer as a mentor, and that’s when I met Lois.

Lois was the representative for my area, a survivor herself, an advocate, and the leader of the Nurture through Nature program. From our very first phone call, she was warm, genuine, and truly listened to my story. We soon connected at events and through her program, which became one of the most valuable parts of my healing journey.

Every week, Nurture through Nature invited survivors to step outside, notice beauty, and capture it through photos – purple flowers, budding trees, baby animals, moss. Lois would always respond to my submissions, never missing a chance to encourage me and share in our love for nature and simple joys. Lois and these weekly challenges helped me reconnect with life, to be still, present, and at peace in the midst of uncertainty. I was learning to live again, finding my way as a survivor. Life had been divided into the ‘before’ and the ‘after.’ Yet in the midst of that shift, there was still nature—steady, unchanged—and there was Lois, reminding me that I, too, was still here.

We met for lunch, and our conversations flowed easily. We talked about faith, family, and the challenges of reentering the fast pace of “normal” life after cancer. We shared stories of worry, hope, and resilience. We even found common ground in her Polish heritage and my husband’s family. She was more than just a fellow survivor or program leader – she was someone who truly understood without judgment.

Lois never made me feel foolish for wanting to be a mentor for others when I hadn’t fully healed myself. She knew, with patience and wisdom, that healing has no timeline. She met me exactly where I was, with grace and kindness.

Her perfect balance of strength and gentleness, of compassion and faith, continues to inspire me. Some people are simply a gift to those around them. That is Lois. Through her passion for nature, her unwavering presence, and her quiet faith, she has reminded me— and countless others—of the beauty, simplicity, and strength that life offers.

Lois, thank you for being my silent hero.