DESCRIPTION MADE BY: Heather Parker Hannifan

On Sunday, June 15, 2014 we lost our precious Cecilia (aka Tee Tee). The void in our family since her death still runs deep and we miss her dearly.  

Cecilia was diagnosed with breast cancer around 2008.  Initially, she wasn’t overly concerned, believing that she would beat this monster.  She barely stood 4’ 8” but she was mighty and over the years, she fought hard.  As time progressed and she eventually had the cancerous breast removed, we were all hopeful that she would make a full recovery.  Unbeknownst to any of us, cancer was not going to let her win.  Her first breast was invaded by a type of hormonal cancer.  After the breast was removed, followed later on by the precautionary removal of her ovaries, cancer eventually presented itself once again in her other breast.  This was a different type of breast cancer, which apparently is quite uncommon – to have two different types of breast cancer.  To add to her battle, she also developed a very aggressive skin cancer at her first mastectomy site which quickly made its way down her side and into her pain.  Cancer was literally eating/burning her alive.  Sadly, on June 8, 2014 Cecilia suffered a cardiac arrest and after over 45 minutes of trying to revive her, she was transported to the hospital where she remained on life support.  She did awaken and for a few days, she even recognized us.  What a trooper she was.  Her beautiful smile as she greeted when she visited.  Slowly, hour by hour, day by day, she slipped away and no longer knew us or barely responded to us.  Her body was too broken – cancer was just too strong.  We knew that even if she survived the cardiac arrest, she still would have died from the horrible and excruciatingly painful skin cancer and the cancer that took over her remaining breast.  She fought with all her might and she died with grace and dignity.  We were so blessed to have her in our lives.  She will be forever missed.

So this year, our family has created the team Tee Tee in honor of our beloved sister, mother, grandmother, etc.  We will participate in the CIBC Run for Cancer and we hope that you will donate either to our team or to one of us individually.  We know firsthand the devastation of cancer and we want to beat this monster.  Please help us with our fight against cancer!