My life was thrown into chaos, crisis and transformation
Margins, lymph nodes and biopsies became my conversation
And just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse
Mastectomies and chemo became my new verse

The chemo had to be given quick and strong
And then it didn’t take very long
17 days later, I truly was in despair
17 days later, I had lost all my hair

I was a woman who put emphasis on looks
Did I have enough substance, had I read the right books
Would people be uncomfortable, could they look me in the eye
Or would they be thinking, “If it were me, I’d want to die”

The pain and humiliation that I went through
Known only to a special few
The calls from people wanting to meet me just to see
Didn’t they realize how I needed my space and privacy

My life was thrown into disarray, but I made a vow
That my three children would never know how
Difficult it was to greet each day with a smile
How difficult it was to go that extra mile

Shabbos dinners at our home were a sight to see
David, Jason, Jeffrey, Stefanie, Casper and little bald me
Each week with a different colored ribbon tied around my head
Each week with so much love unspoken, unsaid

I was fortunate to have my husband David by my side
Steadfast, strong and supportive during that bumpy ride
Never making me feel self-conscious, in fact telling me with great zest
That my old breasts were never winning any beauty contest

So now I’m perky as I can be
But when I hear the word “Survivor” it has a different connotation for me
When life throws you lemons, you make lemonade
And believe it or not, bad memories do fade

Before I had cancer, I had insecurities and self doubt
Now I may not know the answers, but I try to figure things out
And making the effort to do one good deed every day
Gives me the greatest pleasure in every conceivable way

“Lumps and Bumps” was written from my heart
To help those families whose lives are falling apart
Perhaps I was chosen for my journey so I could help
By giving others this part of myself

You can go through life and never be changed
Or you can have your world un-expectantly rearranged
The language of experience that I was forced to learn
Has given me the gift of doing something positive in return