Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, Jordan was given a 40% prognosis of surviving more than five years but lived for more than a decade. While she had been a tireless advocate for the voiceless and nameless for more than 30 years, she also, with her diagnosis, became an advocate for other women afflicted with the disease. She passed away from the disease in 2002. We’d like to honor her legacy by sharing one of her poems.

What Great Grief Has Made the Empress Mute
Because it was raining outside the palace
Because there was no rain in her vicinity
Because people kept asking her questions
Because nobody ever asked her anything
Because marriage robbed her of her mother
Because she lost her daughters to the same tradition
Because her son laughed when she opened her mouth
Because he never delighted in anything she said
Because romance carried the rose inside a fist
Because she hungered for the fragrance of the rose
Because the jewels of her life did not belong to her
Because the glow of gold and silk disguised her soul
Because nothing she could say could change the melted
music of her space
Because the privilege of her misery was something she could
not disgrace
Because no one could imagine reasons for her grief
Because her grief required no imagination
Because it was raining outside the palace
Because there was no rain in her vicinity
Dedicated to the Empress Michiko and to Janice Mirikitani

Our heartfelt thanks to:

• Applebee’s
• Circa 1886
• Castle Keepers of Charleston
• Salon Couture
• Cookies By Design
• The Mills House
• Gold’s Gym
• T-Bonz
• Tristan
• Long Island Café
• Liberty Tap Room & Grill
• Pearlz Restaurants
• Facelogic
• Charleston Junior Women’s Club
• Bowen’s Island Restaurant
• Bond Street Imports
• Samos Taverna
• Yo Burrito
• Ted’s Butcherblock
• WXLY Y102.5
• Mad River Grill
• Dry Clean USA
• Holy City Tattoo

While we’re feeling thankful, we should tell you that we just read an interesting article that shows how breast cancer awareness can lead to awareness in other ways.

Breast Cancer Action (BCA), a San Francisco-based advocacy and fund-raising nonprofit, has called out for companies that raise money for breast cancer while manufacturing products that contain ingredients that have been proven to or are likely to cause cancer. BCA recently declared victory when Yoplait, of the “Save Lids to Save Lives” campaign, agreed to stop using milk from cows treated with recombinant bovine growth hormone, or rBGH. The byproduct of the hormone that remains in milk has been linked by many studies to the development of breast cancer. Shortly after Yoplait’s statement that it would stop using milk from treated cows, Dannon made a similar announcement about its yogurt. It just goes to show that awareness, in all forms, is key to healthy living.

When you’re thinking local, remember that every donation made to The Charleston Breast Center stays right here. Every single dollar we receive goes to work to:

• Ensure comprehensive patient advocacy and care
• Ensure the use of state-of-the-art medical equipment
• Develop women’s breast health awareness programes within the community
• Detect breast cancers at twice the national benchmark
• Improve the lives of Lowcountry women

Stay tuned as we share some of our favorite local businesses and friends.