SURVIVOR SPOTLIGHT

Stephanie Lynch:
If You Believe, Then Suit Up!

By Genevieve Branco

Stephanie Lynch is one of Links for Life’s OG Survivor Sisters! Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002, Stephanie has been giving back to the pink movement for over 20 years. And if you know Stephanie, you know that her tireless volunteer efforts across multiple organizations in Kern County contributed to her being honored in recent years with the Women and Girls Fund Philanthropy Award by Kern Community Foundation, and she generously donated her $1000 award to her favorite non-profit, Links for Life. When I spoke to her, I got the strong impression that since she has retired from her career working for the county supervisor, she’s been busier than when she worked! Perhaps she’s discovered a secret fountain of youth that gives her energy and keeps her going – I’m not sure – but whatever it is, here’s her Survivor Sister story…

Stephanie was introduced to Links for Life in 2001, when the county supervisor she worked for suggested she attend a Links for Life event. As Stephanie tells the story, she promptly got the tickets, and just as promptly lost them. But her introduction was not for nothing, as in 2002 she got introduced to Links again, but this time for her own needs.

Stephanie’s youngest daughter, Shawn, signed up to complete the Avon 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk, and this prompted a conversation. Shawn told her mom about the symptoms of breast cancer and Stephanie mentioned that she had a lump – what she thought was scar tissue from an old surgery – near her previous scars on her breast. At Shawn’s suggestion, Stephanie went to the doctor to get it checked out. During the visit, the doctor felt the lump and asked her if she had time for a mammogram. Stephanie wasn’t worried because she figured it was precautionary. But when Kern Radiology called her the same afternoon, she got a little nervous. She went in for the mammogram, the tech left and came back in and asked her, do you have time for an ultrasound today? At this point Stephanie got a bit more nervous.

Stephanie was diagnosed with breast cancer in her right breast in April 2022. Her initial treatment of a lumpectomy didn’t satisfy removal of all the cancer, so she ended up getting a single mastectomy, and would wear a prosthesis. She did her best to keep working through her chemotherapy, having her treatments on Fridays, the day after her big projects were due, and then recovering over the weekends. She told me that she was kind to herself – if she was tired, she’d go home. If she looked tired, her boss would send her home. But overall she found victory in her recovery and got involved with Links for Life through their support groups and their wig program.

Besides support, Stephanie got a lot of tricks and tips from her Survivor Sisters at Links. For example, when she went out to breakfast for her anniversary just three days after her mastectomy, she still had drains. She learned to wear a button up blouse and a fanny pack to catch her drains. Around the same time as her own diagnosis, she learned of two women that her husband worked with who also had breast cancer. Although one passed, the other showed up at a Links for Life support group, and they became friends and co-chaired Links events for years.

Links for Life has always meant something to Stephanie, because of the support that they gave her during her time of need. She says it is really important to her today to be an encouragement to younger survivors who see her and know that it’s not only possible to survive but to live a wonderful and full life after breast cancer. She told me that she loves Links for Life for what it did for her and her husband during her cancer, and for what it does for the community every day. It is so important for the community to have this resource.

At the end of her chemotherapy treatments, Stephanie’s daughter Shawn asked her to do the Avon 3 Day Walk for Breast Cancer from Santa Barbara, with her. That was just one of the many things she’s done during the last 22 years to bring awareness to breast cancer and to advocate for survivors. She continues to be very involved, chairing Lace’n It Up and having a team of walkers. (In fact, she said there is always room on Team Lynch if I or anyone needs a team!)

So what were the things that most stood out about Stephanie’s story, to me? Well, one thing was her husband’s story. Stephanie told me that Ed lost his own mother to breast cancer. She had chosen to refuse treatment because she didn’t want to be disfigured or lose her hair. So, when Stephanie was diagnosed, Ed was unwaveringly pro-treatment. He told her it didn’t matter what happened to her physically, he just wanted her to live. (Husband of the year award, 2002, goes to Ed.) Another sweet story that Stephanie mentioned was her memory of when she said goodbye to her oncologist. He said, Stephanie I’ve seen you for 7 years, I don’t need to see you anymore. Stephanie told me it was kind of scary, and kind of sad, and that was such an interesting and genuine thing for Stephanie to say. I know that kind of openness and honesty is what makes her such a special support to so many who’ve come after her on this journey.

Stephanie gives a lot of advice to the newly diagnosed Survivor Sisters through her involvement at Links for Life, and here’s a few of her golden nuggets:

Stay strong, keep your faith.

It’s ok to depend on friends and family.

When you’re going through treatment you’re trying to keep your life as normal as possible – but it’s ok, because it’s not normal anymore.

When you’re going into treatment, it’s unknown. But the network of Sisters at Links for Life are there for you. When they say it’s going to be ok, you’ll find comfort. And if you have a question, call your doctor, they don’t mind.

But the biggest advice of all, is a piece of advice that she’s been telling her two daughters, Shawn and Stacy for years. She says, put on your pink and get involved. Many survivors take advantage of the programs Links for Life offers, but they’ll find so much fulfillment and joy in giving back when they are well, too. In fact, Stacy quoted what she heard Stephanie say her whole life at her mom’s 80th birthday party:

If you believe, you show up, suit up, and do your job.

So, with Lace’n It Up just around the corner, let’s put on pink and show up for survivors everywhere. And if you don’t have a team, that’s ok – just remember, Team Lynch is always welcoming walkers for their team.