A Love Story Worth Protecting: The Most Important Thing You Can Do for the Women You Love

Life is full of disruptions—some expected and others blindsiding us in the middle of the busiest season of our lives. As a small business owner, a wife, and a woman navigating this unexpected journey, I want to highlight the love stories we share with the women in our lives. It's crucial to take action to protect them.

I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer on February 4, thanks to a routine mammogram. I had no symptoms, no family history, and no warning signs. My tumor was deep, close to the chest wall—impossible to feel, even after I knew it was there. Mammograms save lives. They find what we cannot. Yet, so many women delay or avoid them altogether.

This diagnosis has disrupted everything—our business, our home, and our carefully laid plans for spring. At Hosta Heaven, we were preparing for another season of growth, curating new varieties, and nurturing thousands of young plants for avid and casual gardeners. Instead of focusing on our plants, updating our blog, sharing on social media, and connecting with our community, I’ve been making medical appointments, processing my diagnosis, and bracing for months of treatment.

Seeking Understanding and Support

Spring should be a time of renewal, with life bursting forth. Yet, at this moment, I am forced to slow down. My husband, who carries much of the weight of our nursery operations, will now also bear the burden of my absence in certain roles. We will navigate this season as best we can. However, I ask for grace from our community and our gardening friends as we juggle business demands with the realities of treatment.

But this isn’t just about business—it’s about love. The love stories that support us define our lives.

The Importance of Love

We love our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, daughters, and friends. We cherish them, lean on them, and celebrate them. Yet, many of them—too many—put off the simple, potentially life-saving step of scheduling a mammogram. If you love the women in your life, talk to them. Ask if they’re up to date on their mammogram. Urge them to schedule the screening that could save them and your love story.

My diagnosis has already led a close family member and a professional colleague to schedule their overdue mammograms. That matters. Knowing you’re clear brings peace of mind. When a screening mammogram uncovers something, it can be life-saving. Every life saved is one more love story that continues, disrupted but uninterrupted due to early detection.

I hope that by sharing my experience, many will be inspired to schedule their mammograms, just as others have shared their stories with me. This could lead to new bonds and friendships.

h. 'Remember Me'

A Tribute to Those We Lost

In the plant world, I have searched for a special hosta called ‘Remember Me,’ a variety named in honor of Sandy De Boer, a worker in the hosta house at Walters Gardens. Breast cancer ended Sandy’s love story. I learned about her hosta a couple of years ago when some sales were donated to breast cancer research.

I may not know much about Sandy's story, but I understand that most breast cancer cases today don’t have to be a life sentence. Cancer research has led to treatments that, while not easy, are tailored to the type and characteristics of the cancer. When caught early, breast cancer can be cured. There’s every reason to believe that I and many others will survive.

Love is the Foundation

I’ve been reflecting—this journey isn’t just about disruption, challenges, or battles. It’s about love. It’s about the relationships that shape us and the resilience we find in them. The love stories we carry forward, even through illness and uncertainty.

I’ve felt the love and prayers enveloping me as I’ve shared my news, which is truly the best possible outcome given my breast cancer diagnosis. There’s grief in this disruption to something so deeply personal. Sometimes, it feels like defiance too. But love remains. It’s love that carries us through. Is that overly sentimental? Maybe, but it's how I feel.

That's why another hosta caught my attention: Love Story from the Proven Winners Shadowland Collection. She’s a beauty, female for sure. Each leaf is as unique as the women in our lives. We are planning something special with our Love Story hostas, and you’ll hear more about it in the coming weeks.

h. 'Love Story'

Saving Our Love Stories

Today, I ask for two things: First, grace as we navigate this disruption in our life and our small family business. Second—and more importantly—I urge you to take action. Schedule your mammogram. Talk to the women in your life. Encourage and support them. Love, in all its forms, is worth protecting.

Let love bloom, even amid disruption. Keep living your love stories.

Here’s my breast cancer awareness tip for everyone: Screening mammograms are the most valuable tool we have. Schedule your mammogram. If you’re not yet ready or aren’t sure you need to, try the Tyrer-Cuzick Risk Assessment Calculator and understand that my lifetime risk of developing breast cancer was only 6.5%, and I still have breast cancer.