Dawn Failla saved pictures and the scarves she wore when she lost her hair to chemotherapy.
When she was 36 years old when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer.
Days later, her mother was by her side. "But when my mom moved in, it became such a deep friendship. To this day, I love her, she saved my life," she said.
Her mother drove her to her surgeries and to dozens of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. "I could not do it without my mom."
Dawn says the support system gave her hope to fight for her life. "You look to a family member, to a husband, a wife, a brother or a sister for that comfort. You want that understanding. You just want to hear it's going to be OK."
Her mother Rosalie Failla said, "I had to perk her up, we had to watch funny movies, we had friends come over. Things of that nature, we did a lot of laughs." The women agree-- a support system is important-- whether it's someone you know or through Komen Florida.
"You do have a feeling of loneliness and that is why the Susan G. Komen is wonderful because you have a place to turn to where people have experienced," Rosalie said. Dawn says she got through all of the treatments because of her mother. "She was an absolute pillar of strength. She was the calming voice during the storm."
Dawn is a Warrior In Pink and will have her own team walking in Race For The Cure on Saturday, Jan. 26.
