Parliament marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month with survivor’s emotional testimony

GREAT BAY--Parliament on Wednesday paused its agenda to observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month with an emotional testimony from breast cancer survivor Yolanda Jackson-Martina, whose story of courage, family strength, and faith deeply moved Members of Parliament.

Chairlady of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams opened the session by reaffirming Parliament’s ongoing commitment to awareness. “As we all know, October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For some time now, Parliament has joined in raising awareness in a demonstrative way. All who work in Parliament are encouraged to show support by wearing what we call a hint of pink, either pink attire or a pink ribbon, every Friday during the month of October,” she said.

She reminded attendees that breast cancer continues to affect and claim the lives of thousands of women each year and that awareness and early detection save lives. “We thought in this small way to continue bringing awareness and to encourage women to get checked,” Wescot-Williams said. “Many survivors walking among us were able to detect and fight the disease early. We are thankful for them and for the many foundations and individuals who continue to stress the importance of awareness. We must continue that message throughout the year.”

The Chairlady said her own breast cancer pin carried a message that captured the spirit of the campaign: ‘Let faith be bigger than fear.’ She thanked Jackson-Martina for her willingness to share her story publicly, describing her as a symbol of faith and strength. “I want to encourage and thank her for her courage and positive spirit, which she displays every opportunity she gets,” she said.

Jackson-Martina began her address by introducing herself as a proud wife and devoted mother of two daughters, aged 17 and 12. “On January 18, 2021, at just 39 years old, my life changed forever,” she said. She recounted noticing a bloody discharge while preparing for a shower, a mammogram that revealed abnormalities, and a biopsy that confirmed the diagnosis. “I was in complete shock and immediately thought of death. I was looking forward to celebrating my 40th birthday, not fighting for my life.”

She underwent surgery to remove the tumor, followed by months of chemotherapy at the St. Maarten Medical Center. “The treatment was brutal. It was the devil in liquid form,” she said. “I lost my hair, my appetite, and my weight. I vomited daily until I vomited blood. I was too weak to move. For someone who has always been independent, it was one of the hardest struggles of my life.”

She spoke movingly about the moment her daughter gave her strength to continue. “At one point, I wanted to give up on life. But my eldest daughter held my hand and looked into my eyes and said, ‘Mommy, please fight. We love you. We need you.’ When I heard her shaky voice and saw her teary eyes, it fueled my determination to fight for my life.”

After eight months of chemotherapy, she traveled to Curaçao for radiation, where doctors found that the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. “My doctor advised me to have an immediate mastectomy. As a young woman and wife, the thought of losing my breast was terrifying,” she said. “But my husband looked at me and said, ‘If this is what you need to save your life, then we’ll get through it together. My love for you won’t change. What matters is that I want you here by my side as we grow old together.’”

She said those words gave her the courage to move forward with surgery in September 2021. “That moment reminded me that true love and family support can give you the strength to do the impossible,” she said. “He stood by me through every stage, from holding my hand in the hospital to helping me rebuild my confidence when I could barely recognize myself.”

The surgery was followed by a long recovery. She lost feeling in her right arm and spent months in therapy before traveling twice to Colombia in 2023 for further treatment and reconstructive surgery. “It was a step toward reclaiming my confidence and healing emotionally,” she said.

Today, Jackson-Martina continues to live with the side effects of chemotherapy, including early menopause, fatigue, joint pain, tingling in her limbs, and sleep disturbances. Yet she calls herself a “four-year breast cancer warrior.” “I share my story not for sympathy, but to bring awareness,” she said. “Breast cancer is not a death sentence. It does not discriminate. Men can get it too. With early detection, it is treatable and survival is possible.”

She urged everyone over the age of 35 to get screened regularly and to maintain a healthy lifestyle. “Manage stress, eat well, and exercise,” she said. “Isaiah chapter 40 verse 31 says, ‘Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles.’ To anyone battling cancer right now, you are not alone. God is with you, and there is hope beyond the storm.”

She ended her testimony with a simple message: “If my story can encourage one person to get checked, then sharing it today is worth every moment. Faith, love, and early detection saved my life.”

Chairlady Wescot-Williams closed by thanking Jackson-Martina for her courage and compassion. “You stand as a role model to many, those newly diagnosed and those still fighting,” she said. “On behalf of Parliament and the people of Sint Maarten, we thank you for your strength, determination, and encouragement to others.”

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