Breast cancer isn’t just a statistic. There are names, faces, and stories attached to each diagnosis. It’s someone’s wife, mother, aunt, sister or friend. And it deeply affects the family members, friends, and co-workers who love and support them.
North East ISD employees are strong in the face of many challenges. This is one of a series of articles this month that will highlight a few of NEISD’s own through their journey with breast cancer. Their stories are filled with hope and courage.
“I realized how incredibly special my family at Woodstone was when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in the summer of 2018,” said first-grade teacher Christine Mingle.
Mingle has spent her entire 27-year teaching career at Woodstone Elementary School. She has shared life’s ups and downs with the lifelong friends she has made at that campus, but nothing could have prepared her for her diagnosis.
“Breast cancer runs in my family on both sides, so I’ve been getting mammograms for quite some time,” explained Mingle.
Her annual mammogram turned into an ultrasound with reassurance; it was probably just a cyst. That ultrasound turned into a biopsy and then a phone call with the life-changing news.
“She told me the four words no woman wants to hear, ‘You have breast cancer,’” explained Mingle. “I was devastated and heard nothing in the conversation after that.”
In September of 2018, she had a lumpectomy and started eight weeks of radiation. Her sons were there to help her fight the cancer. Her second family at Woodstone also pitched in to get her through it.
“My saving grace was teaching my first graders. They were the loving distraction that I needed,” said Mingle. “My colleagues also helped me by watching my class, so I didn’t have to miss work while getting radiation treatments over my lunch breaks.”
A mother. A teacher. A fighter. A survivor.
“I am proud to say that I am a survivor and cancer-free to this day,” said Mingle. “I encourage my friends and family to get mammograms every year and to not put it off. “
For more information on breast cancer awareness and research, visitcancer.org
