Today’s pink edition, meant to celebrate the lives of breast cancer survivors and remember those who fought the good fight and are no longer with us, is a labor of love for us at The Vicksburg Post.

It’s an emotional time for us, too. We read the stories sent to us by survivors and the loved ones of those who passed on. We listen as survivors tell us about their journey, and how it changed them and their family members. We can’t help but be affected.

I vividly recall sitting down with Hugh Green this time last year and, as he told me the story of his wife Joe Ann’s battle with cancer, I wept. I’ve never felt so unprofessional, but the tears began to flow and I could do nothing to stop them. The depth of his love — she died two days before their 50th wedding anniversary — and his loss was something I was completely unprepared to hear.

But Green’s story contained a wonderful lesson for me about how life, and love, goes on, even after breast cancer takes someone away from our earthly world.

We are taking lots of lessons from those who tell us their stories.

I talked at length with Evelyn Weaver on Wednesday afternoon. Like most who have gone through a breast cancer battle, her life is forever changed.

This one-time boot camp enthusiast is struggling to get back her physical strength and be in a position to exercise again like she did before her diagnosis.

Hers is a story of gratitude. Weaver’s husband, Mike, earned a co-survivor of the year award from the Central Mississippi Steel Magnolias chapter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Weaver said her relationship with her husband of 37 years has always been good, but when she was diagnosed with cancer, he became her protector, her cheerleader. She knew when her strength waned, Mike was going to be there to support her, as were her daughter, mother, other family and co-workers at Wells and LaHatte.

And she knows she’s lucky because, for many women, that’s not the case.

Weaver said her struggle with breast cancer, and the ever-present concern that it could return, has taught her to take nothing for granted. Don’t miss an opportunity to spend time with the ones you love. Don’t hold a grudge. Give lots of hugs and say I love you every chance you get.

Breast cancer is a deeply personal disease. Not only is your mother, wife, sister, girlfriend fighting for her life, she often is losing an important part of herself and must deal with the shattered emotions associated with that.

For many women, our breasts provide a sense of identity and are at the core of our femininity.

But we women are resilient beyond compare. We’ve joined together in support groups and communities, and with love and a hearty sense of humor, we’re fighting back against this wretched disease.

At a Relay for Life event a few years ago, I saw the best T-shirt ever created. It read, “Yes, they’re fake. The real ones tried to kill me!” I cackled! Take that, breast cancer!

Little by little, we’re making headway. Others will lose the hard-fought battle. But I’m confident there will come a time in the not too distant future when women — and men — will no longer have to fight this good fight

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Jan Griffey is editor of The Vicksburg Post. Reach her at jan.griffey@vicksburgpost.com.