Why We Bounce... Meet Cathy

We can't let our Bounce for Boobs week go by without introducing you to Cathy. Chances are if you've been to a class at Jax anytime in the last few years, you've met her. (Fun fact, Cathy has taken the most classes of anyone at Jax in the last year!)

And, she is a breast cancer survivor and one of our reasons to bounce!

Cathy was born and raised in Jacksonville, where she still lives and works as a teacher at Jacksonville Middle School. She is married to Bill and the mother of three children.

Cathy found a lump in her breast shortly after turning 40. She was getting ready to head to Disney with her husband and kids for spring break, and decided to wait until school got out for the summer to get it checked out so she wouldn't have to miss any school days. Her doctors didn't think it was anything to be concerned about so she was completely shocked when she got the call that it was, in fact, cancer. “I’ll never forget, I was painting my daughter’s bedroom when I got the call,” she says.

“After meeting with the surgeon, I decided to have a double mastectomy. It really wasn’t a hard decision for me, because I just didn’t want to have the chance of it coming back.” She had surgery in June of 2014 and they were able to remove all the tissue and to Cathy and her family’s relief, there was no lymph node involvement.

Throughout her cancer journey which included genetic testing, a double mastectomy, ovary removal, and chemo, Cathy says that remaining positive was the best medicine. “I’m usually a positive person, but the diagnosis could definitely get you down, I knew I had to get through it for my husband and my kids and my family and my friends; they were my motivation. My kids were so young - they were babies. I knew that I couldn’t go and leave them, that I had to fight my hardest and I was gonna get through it. My positive attitude helped a lot.” She says the support from her friends and family helped so much - they made sure her family was fed and taken care of so she could heal without missing any kids’ events or school.

She had all of her chemo treatments in Jacksonville. She didn’t miss any school days either, except chemo days! (we aren’t surprised, as she is so consistent and committed to everything she does!)

Cathy is 9 years cancer free. She finished treatment in November 2014 - the same year she finished her masters in education. She says “I can finally talk about it, but for a long time I didn’t want all that attention on myself - I just wanted to be with my family and go on.”

She wants other women to make sure to understand their bodies, do self breast checks regularly, get mammograms, and prioritize their health. And above all, Cathy says: "you are your own advocate, STAY POSITIVE!"  (Oh and she also wants you to know that wigs DO MELT so be careful when opening the oven with a wig on your head…haha!)

Cathy found yoga a few years after her cancer journey and says “of course I love it and it’s helped me so much. I enjoy the breath work, the movement, the meditation; it just really helps me focus and have some time for self care.” We are so incredibly inspired every day at Jax by Cathy's positive energy, kind smile, and unwavering commitment to showing up for herself!

Our “Bounce for Boobs” event goes through tomorrow and there are still spots in the last class. You come to class, make a donation (or send a donation to us via Venmo @jaxyogastudio - all donations go to the Mia Ware Foundation.)