Submitted by: Brenna Vivier

 Laundry and cooking are tasks we do everyday and most of the time we get tired of them and even annoyed. But for some, who are fighting their way back from cancer and the treatments involved, these mundane tasks give them a sense of normalcy and help them find strength.  

My dear friend Andrea lived her life like we all do. Running around from morning to evening grabbing what she needed and on the go all the time. Life was good and busy. She was focused on the things that we all think are important until the unthinkable happens and it stops us in our tracks and makes us rethink everything.

A breast cancer diagnosis changed her life and challenged her mentally and physically.  Physically from a double mastectomy, complications from surgery, and chemotherapy. The physical recovery was hard.  She lost weight. She lost so much strength. She wanted to feel strong enough to do laundry or to cook for her family. Simple everyday things were not simple. She knew she had the support of her husband and daughters.  They were by her side throughout all of it and even helped her shave her head when her hair was falling out from chemo. She was so strong, but still felt so out of control. Mental recovery took longer. She was angry and blamed herself. She needed something to control and that was food. She put herself in a box and became rigid about what she ate.  She would look at other people and become jealous that they had so much joy in what they were eating and drinking.  Why couldn’t she be like that? She was at a crossroad and needed to make a choice. She got through cancer, but this was taking a toll on her and making her so stressed out she knew this was not healthy.  It was at that moment when she realized she needed to find a way to have a good relationship with food. To enjoy it again. Then it became a passion. Somewhere amidst all this darkness she found what she was supposed to do. Through hard work, she became a Health and Wellness Coach. She took what could have broken her and became an example to others and most importantly her two beautiful girls. She is empathetic in a way others can’t be, with her clients. Each one is individual.  Each plan is specific to them.  And she is there with them from beginning to end. Andrea promotes a healthy lifestyle, showing others that they don’t have to live in a food prison, and to see food in a positive way. 

Today Andrea is healthy. She is out of the box she had put herself in and knows the true meaning of paying it forward by helping others lead a healthy life. As we ended our discussion Andrea told me she is perfectly content now. Whether it is doing laundry, cooking, having drinks with friends or just sitting on her couch at home with her family, she does not take any of it for granted. She is living her best life with her husband Jeff, daughters Rachel and Lindsey, and their dog Frankie. Her journey has come full circle and on a personal note, I am incredibly grateful to have her and her family in my life. 

For more information on Andrea Berkowitz please visit her website at: www.andreaberkowitz.com