MY LIFE Matters - Advocacy in Action - 16

The Power of
SPEAKING UP
ASHA MILLER, BREAST CANCER VETERAN
AND ADVOCATE
Photos: Adrienne Gerber Photography
I
remember the first time I thought
about advocacy. I didn't even
know the word. I was just a teenager
seeing my Father gasping for
air in our home but being told by
the paramedics that he had to walk to
the ambulance. They didn't believe that
he couldn't breathe, even though it was
evident to my Mom and siblings.
Whenever I think of advocacy, I can't
help but think of my parents, my very
first advocates. I remember watching
them fight to be heard, to be seen, to
be believed in hospital rooms, clinics,
dental offices, churches, everywhere.
Being a Person of Color and an immigrant
can make you feel like you want
to shrink yourself, so you don't " cause
a scene " by speaking up, but by my parent's
example, I saw that I needed to. It
was sometimes life or death.
My first time advocating for myself
was during my cancer diagnosis. I was
just 33 when I found the tiny bump under
my right armpit. I wasn't scared. I
didn't feel sick or tired. It wasn't hurting
or growing, and yet I knew something
was off. I made it a daily point to know
my body better than any doctor, so I
was confident when I went in to ask
what the bump was.
My doctor examined me and was
convinced that nothing was wrong. I
suggested that she could send me for an
ultrasound if I wanted. Spoiler: I wanted
to. I got the ultrasound, and the results
came back with what everyone wants to
hear: ALL CLEAR.
And yet those two words felt like
a lump in my throat because of six
words from the nurse that called with
the results.
16
MY LIFE MATTERS
ADVOCACY IN ACTION | FALL 2023
ad·vo·ca·cy
/ˈadvəkəsē/
noun.
to get support from
another person to help
you express your views
and wishes, and help you
stand up for your rights.
MY LIFE Matters - Advocacy in Action

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