I am 35 years old, I have a beautiful 17 year old daughter and a handsome 11 year old son. We currently live in Jacksonville, FL and we love living the salt life.

I started experiencing abnormal pap smears after I gave birth to my daughter. I suffered from heavy periods and it would last for weeks at a time. It caused me to have low iron and my hemoglobin was extremely low. I went to several doctors over the years. They put me on birth control pills to help regulate my periods and wanted me to take steroids. I ended up having an ovarian cyst which ruptured and everything evolved shortly afterwards.

When I moved to Jacksonville, FL in 2011, I finally found out what had been causing all my health problems… cervical cancer was in full swing.

I thought about my kids, my mom and my siblings. I thought about how I was not going to give up but fight. I did not tell anyone what I was going through in fear of being treated differently or causing worry. I had moved to a new state and my marriage was headed to a divorce. I did not know what life with this cancer would be like however I knew I could not bear to think of defeat over my life. I finally had to tell my manager and she was so sweet along with my wonderful co-workers. She rearranged my schedule so I could go to my treatments. I am so grateful for my best friend constantly being there for me as well as my daughter. I recall my daughter’s reaction when told her and the first thing she wanted to know…”Mommy, are you going to die?” I tried not to cry but the tears immediately poured while driving back from a visit to Alabama. I told her, “No, your Mommy will be here to see you graduate and have a family of your own one day.” She helped me drive when I had no energy, she kept me encouraged and motivated to fight. I have to admit that I was afraid of my future but my Faith would not allow me to get depressed.

Throughout my battle, I remained positive and had wonderful people that surrounded me to assist my family and I.

I am now a survivor and I wanted to offer support to other women that has to fight this battle. I want to help families that have loved ones going through this cancer and do not know how to handle it or what to say or do for their loved one. I was silent going through my battle however I am a voice now for Cervical Cancer Awareness. I started a chapter in Jacksonville, FL with The National Cervical Cancer Coalition, where I am the Chapter Leader. I look forward to National Cancer Survivors Day yearly because I have friends that has passed due to cancer along with one of my sisters that lost her mother to cancer. I will continue fighting until God call me home. Thank you for reading my story.

– Tasha Bostick-Smith