PINK RIBBON MONTH 2019

October 7, 2019

Janice Jucker

I was number 10 on my mother’s maternal line to be diagnosed with breast cancer.  I knew I was high risk, so I was diligent in my screenings. What am I saying? You are your first line of defense.  You must put yourself first and get screened; otherwise, if you have breast cancer, it will never be found.

Throughout my journey, I learned that sometimes the treatment can be harder on the people around you than it is on you.  Because of this revelation, I made light of the difficult situation and threw a surgery party for my husband and sister in the surgery waiting room with more than 50 of our closest friends and family members in attendance during my 11-hour procedure. A friend made me a sign in book, so I was able to see who came to support my loved ones and even had a place for an uplifting note from my “party” attendees.

So I learned from this experience that we do not realize how much people care about you until you are facing adversity.  They want to help you, so tell them what you need. It is okay to do so at this time in your life. It helps to give you a positive attitude and willpower, so accept the support and help of friends and family.

I attribute my survivorship to the great technicians, nurse practitioners and doctors, and Susan G. Komen’s commitment to ending breast cancer with their research dollars.  There is a direct correlation between the inception of Susan G. Komen and breast cancer survival rate. Additionally, Komen Houston introduced me to so many other survivors who gave me wonderful advice to take on my journey.

I look forward to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Houston every year.  I consider it my birthday because recognizing my survival is more important than my actual birthday.  We are treated as so very special at the race because we are survivors. We are surrounded by about 10,000 people who want to support us. It is a gift.

So if you are diagnosed with breast cancer do not go on this journey alone. There are so many people who want to prop you up and hold your hand. Let them – you have my permission.

I hope to see you at the Race. Look for me – I’ll be in pink, dancing and celebrating, and I want to see you dancing and celebrating right next to me.

PS:  Feel free to donate to my Race fund and/or come to my Pink Ribbon product bake sale online or in-store during October.  A portion of proceeds will be donated to Susan G. Komen of Houston.

A POSITIVELY PINK OCTOBER

November 13, 2012

jjucker

Tags: 3-brothers-bakery, three-brothers-bakery, susan-g-komen, houston, 3brothersbakery

As you know, we were “Thinking Pink” throughout October in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At both Three Brothers locations we sold a variety of pink ribbon baked goods including petit fours, cupcakes and even pink gingerbread men cookies. We donated $1 of each purchase to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

This month we also participated in the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure and the Three Brothers Bakery team raised money through donations. On October 27, we held our very own “Shred for the Cure” with Texas Security Shredding. Participants made a suggested donation of $5 and we securely shredded their sensitive materials, and gave them a free cupcake as a thank you for their support!

Overall, through efforts of our bake sale, as well as Race and Shred for the Cure, we were able to raise a grand total of nearly $6,000 during the month of October! We would like to extend the biggest thank you to everyone who came out and helped us exceed our fundraising goals! We couldn’t have done it without the support of fans like you!

Have a sweet November!

CINDY AND BELLA: NOT YOUR AVERAGE DOG PICTURE

October 28, 2015

jjucker

You can see a cute dog like this all over the Internet these days, sure. But this picture of Bella has so much more to offer than just inspiring a quick “aww.”

MY FRIEND AND NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR, CINDY, PURCHASED BELLA FROM A BREEDER. SHE GAVE IT TO SOMEONE WHO WAS GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE AND HAD THREE YOUNG CHILDREN. THE TIMING WASN’T RIGHT FOR THAT FAMILY, SO WE ENDED UP WITH BELLA BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAD A HOUSEFUL OF MALTESE RESCUES. WHAT WAS ONE MORE?

BECAUSE WE ARE FOSTER FLUNKIES, BELLA IS A BELOVED MEMBER OF THE JUCKER FAMILY NOW.

STEP BACK A FEW YEARS, WHEN I RECEIVED MY BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS. ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I TOLD WAS MY FRIEND CINDY (EVEN BEFORE MY HUSBAND BOBBY). SHE WAS THERE TO CRY WITH ME AND PROVIDE SUPPORT, WHICH IS SO CRUCIAL FOR EVERYONE AFFLICTED BY THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE.

CINDY WALKED EACH YEAR IN THE RACE FOR THE CURE AND CELEBRATED THE SURVIVORS SHE KNEW WITH A PARTY AND A SPECIAL GIFT SHE MADE. AFTER I FINISHED TREATMENT, I JOINED HER PARTY AND GROUP IN THE WALK, AND THE GIFT SHE GAVE US THAT YEAR WAS THIS PINK RIBBON YARD ART. CINDY ACTUALLY WELDED IT AND MADE ONE FOR EACH OF US. SHE MADE ALL OF US SURVIVORS FEEL LIKE RACE DAY WAS OUR NEW BIRTHDAY.

MY DEAR FRIEND CINDY DIED THE NEXT YEAR, SEPTEMBER 2008, OF LUNG CANCER. WHEN I WENT TO HER HOSPITAL ROOM TO SAY MY GOOD-BYES, SHE EVEN TOLD ME WHERE SHE HAD HID HER GIFTS FOR HER SURVIVOR FRIENDS FOR THE WALK THAT WOULD BE HAPPENING IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. WE ALL WALKED IN 2008 TO HONOR CINDY.

SO WHEN SEEING BELLA NEXT TO THE RIBBON, I FELT CINDY WAS WITH ME. EVERY DAY I SEE THE PINK RIBBON CINDY WELDED – AND I LOVE ON AND RECEIVE LOVE FROM BELLA – I KNOW MY DEAR FRIEND CINDY IS WATCHING OVER ALL WHO SHE LOVED AND LOVED HER BACK.

EVERY YEAR I RAISE MONIES IN MEMORY OF THOSE WE HAVE LOST TO CANCER. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION IN MEMORY OF CINDY TO MY RACE FOR THE CURE FUND, I WILL BE SURE TO SEND A CARD TO HER HUSBAND, BOB, WHO CAN SHARE IT WITH THEIR FAMILY.

Cindy, I miss you and love you.

LOVE, JANICE