In August of 2016 I lost my mom to breast cancer. My mom was my everything. She was my best friend. Her loss affected me in more ways than I ever thought possible.

My mom was first diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2009. At the time the cancer was pretty centralized and radiation seemed to be the only sort of treatment that was needed. After many rounds of radiation, it was to our surprise that the tumor had gone away, and my mom was officially in remission. We thought that we had the worst behind us, and we could now continue to live on our lives normally.

In the summer, 2013 my mom started to complain about having a lot of lower back issues. She thought just taking an Advil would take care of the issue. It wasn’t until the end of August 2013 that her back pain was so bad that she actually couldn’t move one morning. She just knew something was wrong, so she insisted that my Dad take her to the hospital. That was the day we found out her breast cancer had returned and this time it was more aggressive because it was breast cancer with metastasis.

The next couple of years were tough. Those years were filled with what seemed like doctors’ visit after doctors’ visit, endless rounds of chemotherapy and so many different prescription medications.

In May 2016 the doctor told my mom there was nothing more that he could do, and the medication wasn’t working anymore. From that point on, I literally saw the cancer take my mother away from me.

I lost my mom on August 26, 2016.

After she passed away, I went on a downward spiral and didn’t know who to turn to or what to do anymore. How could I continue my life without my mom?

After her passing I was struggling with grief and had a hard time finding out who I was again. I began to write as an outlet from my feelings. I found that my love for writing became more than just writing, it became therapeutic. I also found that connecting with others who also are struggling with grief and/or who have been in a similar situation brought me comfort.

After doing some research and not being able to find an open platform that dealt with grief, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I created a Shoulder to Lean On - an open platform that offers a place for those seeking guidance and support with grieving after the loss of a loved one. It was created as a safe haven for those going through difficult times and needing a place to express their feelings of grief, sadness, and to be able to share stories of a loved one. I created this platform not only to be able express my own emotions and feelings, but to be able to read other’s stories of their loved ones that they have lost and the struggles that tie with it.
This is just a little snapshot of what a Shoulder to Lean on is and my story.

Follow Anne-Charlotte on IG @ashould2leanon