October carries two powerful reminders about life’s unpredictability — Breast Cancer Awareness Month and National Estate Planning Awareness Week (October 20–26). Together, they speak to the same truth: life can change in an instant, and being prepared can make all the difference.
At Lifescape, we help families prepare for the unexpected — the diagnosis, the accident, the “this wasn’t supposed to happen” moment that disrupts the normal flow of life. Our work is about planning for the “what ifs,” not out of fear, but out of love and responsibility. For three of our team members, that truth became deeply personal through their own breast cancer journeys.
Marla’s Story: Two Diagnoses, One Lesson: Be Ready for the Unexpected
Marla, our Director of Innovative Communications, knows what it means to have life upended. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer at just 36 years old, with a four-year-old and two-year-old twins at home — and a house still under construction. She remembers standing in the newly poured foundation wondering if she would live to see it finished.
Thirteen years later, the unexpected happened again. This time, her oldest was a high school senior and her twins were sophomores — and the world was shut down for COVID.
“Both times,” Marla says, I had a peace the surpassed all understanding. I have a solid faith and I had an Estate Plan that would support my husband and children if their future didn’t include me. You can’t predict when life will change, but you can prepare for how you’ll handle it.”
Her experience shaped her passion for helping others plan ahead — not because bad things always happen, but because life always happens.
Charlie’s Story: A New Mom, A New Battle
Charlie, now one of our Life Care Planners, was diagnosed when her daughter was just three years old. “It’s one thing to face your own mortality,” she reflects, “but when you have a little one looking up at you — that changes everything. You start thinking about what happens if you’re not there tomorrow.”
Charlie’s journey taught her the value of support systems — both emotional and practical. “I wish I’d had a Lifescape team then,” she says. “Someone to help navigate the medical, financial, and care decisions that felt overwhelming at the time.”
Today, she brings that perspective to the families she helps — understanding firsthand what it feels like to balance hope, fear, and the urgent need to plan.
Karen’s Story: Four Daughters, Countless Unknowns
Karen, now our Benefits Specialist, was a mother of four girls — ages 19, 17, 13, and 11 — when she heard the words “you have breast cancer.” Her first thought wasn’t about herself, but about them. “I remember thinking, what if I’m not here for their graduations, their weddings, their babies?”
Her diagnosis reminded her that “the unexpected doesn’t wait for a convenient time.” It also taught her the importance of putting plans in place early — from health care wishes to legal documents that protect your loved ones.
From Experience to Empathy
None of these women worked at Lifescape when they were diagnosed. But their journeys now inform the heart of what we do — helping others be ready when life changes unexpectedly.
At Lifescape, we combine legal planning with compassionate life care guidance to help families prepare for every stage of life’s journey. Whether facing illness, aging, or the realities of long-term care, we make sure our clients’ wishes are honored, their families supported, and their plans ready when it matters most.
A Month for Awareness. A Week for Action.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month reminds us to get checked, stay vigilant, and support those fighting this disease. National Estate Planning Awareness Week reminds us to get our affairs in order — not someday, but now.
Both call us to the same action: don’t wait until the unexpected happens to start preparing for it.
If you or someone you love has been putting off making a plan, now is the perfect time.
Let our Lifescape team help you take that first step toward peace of mind — for you and those you love.
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