The guardian of the garden...

At the park in Babylon, where I took the picture of the waterfall, there was a short stone walk with a bench, some flowers and this little lady. Only when I stepped back did I realize that the stone walk was in the shape of a ribbon and the statue was a tribute to women with breast cancer.

The National Cancer Institute® did a study and found that in Nassau County, Long Island, between the years 2000 and 2004 out of every 100,000 women there was an incidence of 138.7 and a mortality of 28 women.

There are many theories surrounding the high incidence on Long Island including pesticide use in the past on LI farms that seeped into ground water and high tension electrical cables over densely populated areas. I know many women that have been diagnosed and a couple that have passed from a fast moving cancer. The numbers are staggering.

In 2002 my mother was part of that incidence statistic... but thanks to the great staff at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center as well as a strong immune system and a life of healthy eating she did not become part of the mortality statistic. Here we are, 6 years later, and she is healthier than her four children ;) She exercises daily and looks and feels great.

We love you mom.