Sept. 29, 1996
I found a lump on my right breast. I made an appointment for the doctor later that day. After examining the lump he sent me right over to the hospital for a mammogram and was told to wait for the report and bring it back to him. But he didn't  "think it was anything." After looking at the report, a sonogram was ordered for the next morning. After the sonogram, I was to return back to the doctors office with the report. The sonogram showed the lumped
to be the size of a pencil eraser. My doctor suggested that I have a surgeon take a look at it and that I could decide what options I would be facing.

 

Oct 2, 1996 -
I met with my surgeon, he suggested I have a biopsy done either a needle or surgery to take a look at this. Wanting it to be 100 percent sure it was “nothing” I opted for surgery.

Oct. 10, 1996 - Surgery day
I was woke up to the nurse crying and my doctor telling me with tears in his eyes “Debra its cancer.” My world stopped, it didn’t make any since at all because “ it was nothing” and I did not have time for this. After being discharged later that morning I went home and began one of the hardest days of my life…having to tell family, friends, most of all, how to tell my 2 daughters, at the time 9 and 13 yrs old. We all sat on the couch and I told them “ I have cancer” Melanie my youngest asked me “does this mean you are going to die?”
“No” I replied. Pointing her finger at me she said “PROMISE?” I said “Yes!”
She then got up and went to play. Later that night I woke up and went to the living room and kneeling at the couch I prayed “God you let me live and I promise to do something to help other women.”

I had yet another surgery to remove lymph nodes, take more tissue to make sure they had clean margins, and they inserted my port. We later learned that the cancer was stage 3 and had grown to the size of a half dollar with a hook getting ready to spread. Having no idea what I was going to do to fulfill my promise I made to Melanie and most of all to God. I began my road to what some call hell, "chemo and radiation". With 4 rounds of chemo and 4 weeks of radiation everyday with the weekends off.

UGH! I lost my hair, and nothing went like I thought it was suppose to, but God had a plan and knew I needed to laugh, and there were days that all I could do was laugh.
My treatments ended in March of 1997, and I then began to try and put normalcy back into my life.

Sept. 1997 -

 A year later to the day I found my lump, I lost a very good friend Terry Teter to cancer. It started out in the breast and spread over years to other parts of her body. She had fought a long hard battle and never ever gave up. The thought of my promise just became stronger.

In 2000, we learned that my sister Michelle was diagnosed with breast cancer and she underwent radiation treatments, only to have it return again in 2001. The thought of my promise was growing only stronger,

 

Through the next 9 yrs I went very faithfully to my appointments for checkups. The day finally came in 2006 when I was told I was “cured, go live your life.”
Over a glass of champagne with my best friend we talked over my “plan.” I didn’t have one. She suggested I write a book…I thought, no, I am not a writer. I just kept praying and asking God to show me what I was suppose to do.

Michelle in the mean time had bought and began riding her own Harley! "You Go Girl"
Myself, loving that idea I would often hitch a ride with her husband Kevin and we would go riding. There was a motorcycle club in Garnett,  called the“Lake Garnett Independent Bike Club”. The club was sponsoring a toy ride to collect toys for underprivileged kids in Garnett, I was called and asked if I would like to drive the pickup that was being used to collect these toys. I jumped at that idea!
While I was driving the idea "FLEW" into my head, and the thought of the promise I had made to "God". Lets do a ride to benefit women who cannot afford mammograms!!! But how? I presented this idea to several people including hospital staff,  the bike club, family, and friends. They were all on board with the idea.

2006 - The 1st annual W.I.N.G.S. ride was held with 37 bikes, 6 vehicles and a whole lot of rain! We sold raffle tickets for a brand new Harley Davidson Motorcycle, and all had a had a great time in spite of the rain.

The event grew over the years, 2007 we had approximately 80 bikes; 2008 - approximately 180 bikes, 2009 approximately 210 bikes, 2010 approximately 100 bikes, 2011 approximately 130 bikes.

As we start this great year of 2011, we can't wait to see what's in store for W.I.N.G.S.

This story does not end here it just keeps growing with each new person we are able to help, or the new friend that we meet. W.I.N.G.S. would not be possible if it wasn't’t for the people who have embraced a small town girls dream and believed in what we are doing.

My word could never be enough to "Thank" everyone for all they have done for me, my sister and W.I.N.G.S. I just pray that soon, we can someday stand together and celebrate A CURE FOR BREAST CANCER!

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Please let any of us know if we can help you or a loved one.

May God Bless You Everyday.
Deb McMahon