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Tue, May 15 2012 03:25:29

Mother's Day Memories of Love, Loss and Living With Cancer

On Mother's Day, May 13, 2012 Xeni Jardin sparked a remarkable conversation on Twitter inspiring hundreds of people to celebrate the lives and share the stories of their mothers who had battled with cancer.

  1. Here are the tweets that started it all. 
  2. xeni
    Xeni Jardin@xeni
    Mad love and respect to all the moms with cancer I've met here on Twitter. Including the ones no longer here.
    Sun, May 13 2012 08:44:12
  3. xeni
    Xeni Jardin@xeni
    My mom sat in chemo w/me on her birthday, held bucket by my bed when I couldn't stop vomiting, held my hand in recovery. #Cancer #MothersDay
    Sun, May 13 2012 09:50:42
  4. xeni
    Xeni Jardin@xeni
    If your mom helped you get through cancer, or you lost your mom to cancer, @ me and I'll retweet some stories today.
    Sun, May 13 2012 09:51:25
  5. Here are the stories that Xeni's followers shared. This is nearly every single tweet, roughly 240 in total, listed in reverse chronological order with the newest ones first.  
  6. Jenntrix
    Jennifer Thompson@Jenntrix
    @xeni My daughter's best friend's mother died of BC this morning. Her 3rd friends mother in 2yrs. How can she think I won't be next?
    Sun, May 13 2012 21:42:35
  7. toddjagger
    Todd Jagger@toddjagger
    @xeni Lost Mom to liver cancer 3 years ago. Bless them all. Hug 'em if you (still) got 'em. cl.ly/3q0g331i3x0O3R…
    Sun, May 13 2012 21:34:22
  8. coverbeek
    Chris Overbeek@coverbeek
    @xeni following your RT all day, I have cried, smiled, and reflected. Thank you for sharing... Mom, Bladder CA. Me, TC. Both alive...
    Sun, May 13 2012 20:39:18
  9. blbennett
    Brandon Bennett@blbennett
    @xeni Thank you for being so open about your diagnosis/recovery. Mother diagnosed and beat breast cancer 15 yrs ago. Today means a lot.
    Sun, May 13 2012 20:34:22
  10. _claire_s_
    ClaireS@_claire_s_
    @xeni Read many of your RTs today. Was struck by the number of men who tweeted with such love, affection & admiration for their moms. #love
    Sun, May 13 2012 20:36:10
  11. ejwillingham
    Emily Willingham@ejwillingham
    .@xeni My mother-in-law is breast cancer survivor, now 82, just returned from 50th anniv trip that incl stops in Istanbul&Barcelona
    Sun, May 13 2012 20:06:23
  12. outseide
    Jill S.@outseide
    @xeni so moved by all the testimonials about moms & cancer. My mom dx w/ rectal cancer last fall. No involvement/spread. Feel so lucky.
    Sun, May 13 2012 20:06:00
  13. drdawkins09
    marcia dawkins@drdawkins09
    @xeni Lost my grandma 2 yrs ago to uterine cancer, age 91. She survived breast cancer years ago and fought until the end. #inspirational
    Sun, May 13 2012 19:58:42
  14. rickholgate
    Rick Holgate@rickholgate
    @xeni My mother survived breast cancer twice, 20+ years apart...then survived staph this year at 90. Toughness to be admired & emulated.
    Sun, May 13 2012 19:32:49
  15. Mlvanlancker
    MaximilianVanlancker@Mlvanlancker
    @xeni Lost my mom to colon/liver cancer in 2007 when I was 13. Been 5 years, mothers day is still tough. Glad people care.
    Sun, May 13 2012 19:38:38
  16. onesillymama
    Liz Monahan@onesillymama
    @xeni I was dx with kidney cancer while pg w/2nd child; kidney out @ 17wks. Baby now 6; I am stageIV since 2008 but keep fighting 4 my girls
    Sun, May 13 2012 19:44:36
  17. b_galarneau
    Benoit Galarneau@b_galarneau
    .@xeni my mom survived. We had lobsters and chablis today. Thanks god my father's a doctor.
    Sun, May 13 2012 19:08:35
  18. evan579
    Evan B@evan579
    @xeni Lost my gma to liver cancer in Feb. Too fast. She was so serene at the end, but it happened too quick for me. Today hurts w/o her.
    Sun, May 13 2012 19:10:29
  19. ChristineKraft
    Christine Kraft@ChristineKraft
    @xeni my mom passed away 1.5 years ago, 15 weeks from dx w/ lung cancer. She spent her life learning. She had a great smile. #missmom
    Sun, May 13 2012 19:09:55
  20. PLSBand
    Poor Little Saturday@PLSBand
    @xeni My mom survived thyroid cancer after total thyroidectomy & I-131. She was radioactive for a month, but 15 yrs on she's alive to love.
    Sun, May 13 2012 19:10:46
  21. Lanell512
    Lanell512@Lanell512
    @xeni lost my mom when I was 13 to breast cancer...today's my birthday. Mother's Day is always tough.
    Sun, May 13 2012 19:17:29
  22. @xeni - Mom when I was 11 yrs old to Pancreatic and Dad 25 yrs later to Liver Cancer, still feel loss Aug to Dec. http://pic.twitter.com/IOVe8t0I
    Si@Sossboy
    ·
    Sun, May 13 2012 19:02:28
  23. bethannclement
    Beth Clement@bethannclement
    @xeni I lost my mom to pancreatic cancer 9 years ago today. Ive really been missing her today. Thank you, this helps.
    Sun, May 13 2012 19:01:55
  24. blakkkr
    ΒLΔΚΚЯ@blakkkr
    @xeni RT flood made me go into kitchen to hug my mum & dad. so lucky to have them alive & relatively healthy with me
    Sun, May 13 2012 18:57:53
  25. jhjones
    Jane Houston Jones@jhjones
    .@xeni JennyP, stage 4 20 yr #BC survivor coordinates our #MonroviaCA #RelayforLife 24 hour #cancer walk June 2 #hope #FundCancerResearch
    Sun, May 13 2012 18:41:26

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Josh Stearns

Fighting for the future of journalism through media & tech policy. Interested in building community & sustainability. Journalism and Public Media Campaign Director at Free Press.

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