Benita Griffin is a fighter – and one battle she refuses to lose is her fight against breast cancer.
“It’s a tough ordeal,” said Griffin, 41, who was diagnosed in July of last year. “It’s tough, especially when you go through this by yourself.”
The Rochdale Village mom of three, whose own mother was also diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, said that she first felt a peanut-sized lump in her breast in June 2009. After a week, she noticed its increasing size and had it checked. While waiting for the results, the lump grew very rapidly. In less than a month, she was given the diagnosis. “I had to trust my doctors and trust that the radiation, chemo, and surgery would work,” she said.
Griffin has endured five surgeries, with four of them in one month. There have been many complications regarding these surgeries, primarily blood clots forming multiple times.
“It was dangerous to my health,” said Griffin. “I lost lots of blood and they had to give me two blood transfusions. I’d go home, then a week later I’d have another blood clot and would have to go back.”
She said her journey has been “crazy and rough.” Griffin also had to maintain a healthier diet but could not exercise because her body was still in the process of healing. She was also not allowed to do any lifting or cooking and was bedridden for some time.
However, through the help of neighbors, friends, and co-workers, who “stepped in and gave me stuff like food and water to make sure me and my kids were okay,” she persevered.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Griffin said that although she has no significant other to help her through her hardships, her 13-year-old daughter has helped her greatly with “cooking and giving me my medicine and cleaning because I wasn’t able to do that.”
Griffin also had to take unpaid leave from her job as a police administrative aid (PAA) for the 103rd Precinct. Her duties, which included working for the captain, data entry, and dealing with supplies for the precinct, were all put on hold for her recovery.
“I really miss my job, because after being home for a long time, it’s hard,” she said. “Sitting at home is not for me. I miss the fresh air and being able to go places.”
On Friday, March 19, a benefit party – which she calls a “beautiful and generous act” – was held in her honor to help with her expenses.
Among the attendees were some of her colleagues at the precinct as well as past co-workers, family, friends, and mere strangers who came out to support the cause.
“Deputy Chief Michael Blake and Police Officer Mary Cole got together and spoke about how they put together the event and I was really surprised about it because they didn’t have to,” Griffin said. “They gave me a speech and talked about how they missed me and how they were there for me, and it really touched me.”
Griffin said that she also met another woman at the event who was recently diagnosed with cervical cancer.
“I told her I’d be with her through the whole process and she can be strong through it just by putting God first in her life,” she said.
Griffin said she relies on God and prays her way through everything. Although she is still in much pain, she tries to stay optimistic about the whole situation and always has “prayer on my lips.”
Although her journey is not over, Griffin’s main focus is “to fight to stay alive for my kids.” She also expressed concern for other women, saying that getting a mammogram and self-checks are integral.
“It’s a fight I have to do to the end and it can be done,” she said. “With the right doctors and the right friends in your life, people really help you through the process.”
