placeholder image

Erin

Erin loves cardigans, cats, crafting, and cataloging. She lives in the same cute brick bungalow she bought in 2013 in Cuyahoga Falls, with her four cats: Juniper, Pancake, Hazelnut and Ernie. She has been a cataloger for 13 years, and currently works at the Cleveland Public Library, where she was recently promoted to Senior Cataloger. She loves to putz in her flower gardens, take long naps, read, and to do crafts and artsy stuff like crocheting, painting, and making cat-themed postcards. She is an introvert with extrovert tendencies, likes to visit friends and family, and tries to approach as much of her life as she can with a sense of wonder and humor – otherwise, her anxiety turns her into a little ball of, well, anxiety.
 
Erin had her first mammogram in March of 2022 after turning 40 and was eventually diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Stage 1B (post-surgery, it was downgraded to Stage 1A). After a genetic test revealed an ATM gene mutation, her breast surgeon, Dr. Victoria VanFossen, recommended changing the plan of action from a lumpectomy to a bilateral mastectomy. She went to see Dr. Mirhaidari later that same day, had her first full breakdown, and Dr. Mirhaidari helped make her feel better about the whole thing. As a matter of fact, Dr. Mirhaidari has helped her through every many disasters she experienced related to her treatment over the past two years! Erin decided on a double mastectomy with direct to implant reconstruction in May of 2022, and is still happy with her decision.
 
Erin advises women that it is “important to have a sense of humor and use it with abandon whenever you feel like falling apart, or whenever a good opportunity presents itself. Who cares if people look at you like you make no sense? Cancer makes no sense! Keep a notepad to write down questions and concerns when they occur to you. Sometimes just writing those down can calm an anxious mind at 2 am. Advocate for yourself. One day at a time.”
 
Erin chose to walk the Pink Runway to serve as an example of a single woman who made it through breast cancer with her sanity, her job, and continuing to own her own house. “I couldn’t have done that if I didn’t have a huge support network of friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, healthcare workers, and even a few complete strangers. Countless people stayed with me, checked on me, and thought fondly of me, and it kept me going. I was never alone on my journey, and I’ve grown closer to so many people throughout that journey. It’s not the best way to meet and reconnect with people, but it works if you let it! I am here to show that you can do this.”
 
Finally, Erin shares that, ”Dr. Mirhaidari and her staff (Deidra, Jennifer, Rebecca, and all the others) were (and are) an integral part of the community that are keeping me going through this craptastic rollercoaster that is breast cancer. I feel so fortunate I found this group of people. They’ve treated me like family, and I feel the same about them.”