Amy's Story
My name is Amy Bratcher. When I was 47 years old, I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. The cancer was found during my yearly mammogram and due to its scope and size, my doctor recommended a bilateral mastectomy. On September 16, 2020, I had the first of several surgeries.
As I prepared for my surgery, the breast health navigators and my surgeon recommended I use a recliner chair during my post-surgery recovery. I did not own a recliner but was lucky to have a friend who had undergone a similar surgery several years earlier.
Angie (her story is below) was given a recliner chair, which was so impactful in her post-surgery recovery that she kept the chair to lend out to other women undergoing breast surgeries. Angieās chair was an essential part of my recovery both physically and emotionally; being in that chair, knowing other women before me had endured similar surgeries and recovered, gave me such comfort knowing that I was not alone.
Anytime Iāve walked through a hard situation, Iāve hated the beginningā¦ but Iāve always come out the other side changed and grateful for what God showed me there in the valley. Sometimes itās only in those places we āseeā what He wants to show us. Cancer can bring you closer or make you busy doing all the āthings.āĀ Cancer teachesĀ a lesson that not much else in life can ā slow down, see Jesus, see people and rest in both their arms.
I leaned heavily on Jesus during this journey and was blessed to have my husband of 22 years,Ā Cary,Ā Ā and my three children by my side every step of the way. As hard as it was to endure my cancer diagnosis, surgeries and recovery, God used my experience to inspire my daughter Olivia to help other families on their path of breast cancer recovery.
In March 2021, when I scheduled my reconstruction surgery, I was not able to borrow Angieās chair because it was being lent outĀ to someone else.Ā This disappointment ledĀ Olivia to envision a fleet of recliner chairs available for women to use after their own breast surgeries. Operation Pink Chairs was born as Oliviaās Girl Scout Gold Award Project. Olivia has always had a heart for serving others, and thisĀ isĀ a way she could help on a larger scale. Iām so proud of Olivia for taking a difficult situation that our family endured and turning it into something positive for her community. I pray that the Lord is with you on your own journey through breast cancer and that Operation Pink Chairs will be as impactful for your recovery as Angieās chair was for mine.
Angies Story
My name is Angie WesleyĀ andĀ Iāve been aware of breast cancer all my life. My maternal grandmother was diagnosed when I was only 8 years old. She lived a full life after a mastectomy until she recently died at age 93.
My mother discovered a tumor at age 47 butĀ did notĀ live to see old age. After mastectomy and treatments, she passed away when she was only 54Ā years old. I am the oldest ofĀ threeĀ girls and was always trying to do the ārightā things to avoid the same diagnosis. However,Ā at age 44, a biopsy confirmed breast cancer.Ā My recommendedĀ treatment included a double mastectomy.
I only had a few weeks to prepare for my surgery. Trying to make the arrangements forĀ threeĀ young children during the summer was no easy task. However, many friends and family offered to help, and I couldnāt have managed without them. The harder question became who was going to take care of meā¦
My husband could not take extended time away from work and other family members nearby were willing to help, but had their own families to care for as well.
A good friend that had been a nurse for many years graciously offered for me to stay in her home and be my caregiver post-surgery. What an unbelievable offer. It felt like such an imposition, but it was an offer I could not refuse. So, on July 11, 2016, I had a double mastectomy, and the next dayĀ IĀ was welcomed into her home for around-the-clock care. Waiting for me in the guest room was a recliner. I didnāt realize how difficult it would be to move andĀ getĀ comfortable. This recliner became my refuge, myĀ little nest. It was such a comfort both physically and emotionally.
As I started to recover, I realized I didnāt want to leave the chair behind. I knew my time was limited before needing to transition back home, but I did not want to be without the chair. It was like we were like a team.Ā Then I learned the chair was purchased specificallyĀ for the purpose of aiding in my recovery; it wasĀ mine to take home and use for as long as I needed. This was the most amazing gift. I did take it home and continued to recover in it for several more weeks, and again after reconstructionĀ surgery. ThroughĀ the hard days, the additional surgeries, the uncomfortable changes, it continued to provide me comfort.
Almost a year later, a good friend of mine called me with the news that she too was facing a double mastectomy. I knew just what she needed! The chair. It could be her place of refuge and recovery. I took it over to her house and explained she was welcome to use it for as long as she needed it. Then one day, she had a friend facing the same surgery. Could she pass it on? Absolutely! This was the beginning of the traveling chair. Just by word of mouth, this same recliner has helped over a dozen women facing mastectomy.
One of these women was Amy, Olivia Bratcherās mother. I was more than happy to pass on the chair to support her recovery. But when she needed it for reconstruction surgery, it was already with someone else. Obviously, more chairs were needed.Ā Olivia has nurtured this idea andĀ worked to create Operation Pink Chairs. She has taken a simple act of kindness and turned it into a ministry to serve others facing mastectomyĀ ā providingĀ a place for healing and recovery. I know that all theĀ reclinersĀ will be a place of comfort, both physically and emotionally,Ā to women facing breast cancer and the recovery journey after their mastectomy.
Marieās Story
My motherās name is Marie Hazel (Hahn) Snakenberg. She has lived her entire life in Sigourney, Iowa. She raised three sons with her husband Mel Snakenberg, WWII Navy Veteran. They lived on the family farm which was started by the Snakenberg Family in 1843. We still own this farm, minus acres which have been incorporated into Belvidere Park which is located in rural Sigourney, Iowa.
Marie lost a breast in the early 1990s to cancer and of course followed up with radiation. She had a full recovery and still lives in Sigourney. She is a healthy 88-year-old with no signs of slowing down!
Leslie's Story
My name is Tara Ward. What joy it brings to have a chair named after my sweet friend, Leslie Edwards, and Iām honored to share a little about her story.
It is with sadness that I have to speak of Leslie in the past tense because she ultimately lost her battle to cancer. BUT, her life, her spirit, her legacy lives on beautifully through every person who had the privilege of knowing her.
Leslie was the wife to her loving husband, Troy, and mom to three beautiful daughters, Madison, McKenzie and Cayleigh. She openly talked about how lucky she was to be Troyās wife and it was evident to all how much she loved her man. When I think of them sitting together in the church pew, I donāt remember a time when his arm wasnāt around her and she just cozily molded into the corner of his chest. And you certainly couldnāt spend any time around Leslie without her proudly speaking of her girls. She was their biggest cheerleader and her face lit up as she spoke about them. Madison, McKenzie and Cayleigh were just as adoring of their mama as she was of them. They all shared a sweet closeness.
Leslie loved life, loved the Lord and ALWAYS had a smile on her face. When I think of her, I can still hear her laugh. She found humor in thingsā¦ little things, mundane thingsā¦and to Leslie, life was good, fun and everything had a bright side. I canāt think of Leslie without thinking of her hospitality on Christmas Day.
Every year, she invited a group of people to join their family at their house to swim, yes swim, on our cold, wintery Tennessee days. They cranked up the pool heater and had a blast. Sadly, we never got to go because of our own family commitments, but I always thought it would be fun.
Leslie was humble and grateful, and maybe just a little controlling! But hey, itās hard to be a mama and not be controlling at some point! Ha!
Unless she was at church, you would almost always see her in a tennis skirt. She loved the sport and had a competitive spirit.
I donāt think she really liked to loseā¦like ever!
If thereās one word that really describes Leslie though, it wouldĀ be āfierceā ā think of a lioness.Ā And when I think of the word āfierce,ā I think of a lion or lioness. A lioness is a magnificent image of strength, beauty and passion. A lioness stands for a fierce defender of her family and a capable provider. Leslie was without a doubt a lioness. She was a fierce supporter of all things good in her life.
She was protective of her clan and had godly strength that stemmed from her faith. She was beautiful and had a heart of gold and was certainly passionate about life, her familyā¦and tennis! She provided for the needs of her family and took joy and pride in being a wife and mother. Leslieās cancer journey began in May 2015 when she was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. She had a double mastectomy in June 2015 and started chemotherapy in July of that year. As anyone with a cancer diagnosis knows, itās easy to fall into fear.
Leslie put this quote by Renee Swope on her Caring Bridge site, āI want to be a woman who overcomes obstacles by tackling them in faith instead of tiptoeing around them in fear.ā Leslie did just that! Throughout her journey, she conquered fears with her steadfast faith in God, fought back and stood on Godās promises. Losing her hair was hard, but she conquered and took control so the fear didnāt control her. She buzzed her hair off herself and in Leslie fashion, she found a way to make it fun with her family. She shopped and sported fun hats because in her words, she wasnāt a āwig girl.ā
The surgeries and chemo treatments went well and she went into remissionā¦all praise and glory to God! Throughout the whole process, Leslie handled it with grace, an overflowing heart of gratefulness to her Lord and Savior and to her supportive friends and family, humor (of course), transparency (some days she admitted to āstomping her feet and throwing a fitā because things werenāt exactly going her way), looking at the bright side, dotting on Troy and her girls on how they handled the difficult days, southern manners (she was SO concerned that she had forgotten to send a thank you note to someoneā¦bless her heart), a heart that showed more concern for her family than for herself (she would ask for prayers for Troy and the girls more often than for herself) and a tenacious faith in the Lord.
One of her favorite scripture verses was Exodus 14:14, āThe Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.ā Only the Lord could make Leslie still! I can see sweet Jesus now, saying to our busy, wanna-do-it-all, fighter, go-getter friend, āLeslie, let Me take the wheel. Let Me fight this for you. Just relax.ā She relied on the Lord, her faith, the prayers of family and friends and the promises of God to get her through, and He sure did! She finished chemo in October of 2015 and went into remission.
I wish the story stopped there. During Leslieās journey, she often sought the Lord in what she was to learn in her cancer battle because she knew the Lord had a plan. The Lord has a plan and a purpose in all things and will use difficult things for our good and for the good of others. Little did I know then that part of Godās plan in Leslieās journey was to be a cheerleader and support me in 2019. I was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer in February 2019. Leslieāhaving fought and conquered the limitations from surgeries, the horrible drains, the dread of endless doctor visits and appointments, the reliance on others to help with the daily routine, all the fears and hurdles and what ifāsālearned how to help others through these same struggles.
She was a friend who understood, a friend who could sympathize, a friend who knew exactly what I needed (even before I knew I needed it), a friend who constantly checked in, a friend who visited, a friend who brought meals, sent cards, sent text messages, a friend who prayed, a friend who encouraged and supported and cared. And as only Leslie could do, she found a way to make me laugh, to find the bright side. She was a fierce friend. She displayed strength, beauty and passion to me when I needed it the most. And I could not be more thankful for her support during my cancer journey.
Sadly, in the fall of 2021,Ā Leslie found out herĀ breast cancer had returnedā¦ this time on her liver. In the weeks to follow, they learned that the cancer was more advanced than expected and she rapidly declined. All of us were shocked and saddened to say the least. On October 9th, 2021, Leslie saw her loving Savior face to face. Troy, on her Caring Bridge site, wrote, āā¦while we are sad for our loss, we know that Leslie is happy, whole and will be taking care of all of us.ā So beautifully said. As much as I wish God had a different plan and she could still be lovingly taking care of her family here on earth, thereās no doubt she will continue to be a fierce supporter and cheerleader for her family and friends from Heaven. I wonder if she might get a little sassy with Jesus and tell Him how to do things (ha, JK). I know sheās smilingā¦ with an even more vibrant smile than she had on earth. I know sheās laughingā¦ with even greater joy. I know sheās pointing out Troy, Madison, McKenzie and Cayleigh to the citizens of Heaven, to all who will listen, bragging on them. I wonder if she takes a dive in the Heavenly pools on Christmas Day and I wonder if there are winners and losers in tennis matches. If thereās still a competitive spirit in Heaven, Iām sure she finds a way to keep score! Sheās a lioness with a beautiful crown relishing in Godās presence, waiting to be reunited with her clan.
I know a reclinerĀ was instrumental in my recovery and sanity. I was fortunate enough to have one at home and I lived in it for weeksĀ afterĀ my own mastectomy. It was the only place I could sleep and restĀ and whereĀ I often read Leslieās encouraging and supporting texts to me.Ā I know she would want to encourage others as they recover in this chair thatās now named after her.Ā I think she would tell you: Hold tight and take one day at a time. You are not alone in this fight or in how you feel. You are totally allowed to hate the entire process, to stomp your feet and scream. She would say itās O.K. to ask God the hard questions, but she would also be praying that you would experience Godās indescribable peace. She would tell you that you CAN do this and she would be cheering you on. She would say that the process isnāt fun but that laughter is the best medicine. She would tell you to be patient, give yourself some grace, allow others to help you and love on you. You will experience many blessings in your own journey, so look for them. May you be encouraged by others who have walked the same road before you. And most importantly, she would tell you that you are in good hands, being lovingly held by Jesus. Isaiah 41:10, āSo do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.ā