As I sat here tonight contemplating the first round of my reconstruction surgery on Tuesday, I couldn’t help but realize how fortunate I am to be in this situation. I have survived two rounds of breast cancer and cannot believe that I have had such wonderful medical personnel with which to work that have provided me with the best of care and testing that has resulted in my diagnoses and surgeries before the cancer had a chance to spread.
I work for the Walt Disney Company. I have been afforded the opportunity to have great medical insurance that continues to provide coverage that I would never have been able to afford under any other circumstances. I am surrounded by a great team of co-workers that have been so supportive as I have traveled this journey for more than a year now. What more could anyone ask for?
I really do find myself at the happiest place on earth. There are so many more aspects to this company that people never have the opportunity to see. If you happen to watch the TV show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”, you can get an idea of the spirit of this company and for what its employees stand.
Many of my co-workers are part of the Disney VoluntEARS who give countless hours of their time and energy in assisting people in their communities in just about every way imaginable. The volunteering spirit seems to represent a uniqueness in the character of the people that this company employs.
My wish is that more companies begin to embody the spirit of this company and what it provides for its employees on so many levels. It not only provides family values and content for its audiences around the world but also those employed here subscribe to the same values and share them in so many ways.
So as I once again face a surgery on Tuesday, I not only will have my own wonderful family with me to cheer me on and support me along the way but I will also have another whole big team who has already supported my past recoveries and volunteered to help in any way possible. I can’t begin to tell you how much that means to me.
Barbara Jacoby is an award winning blogger that has contributed her writings to multiple online publications that have touched readers worldwide.