GAZELLE MAGAZINE Vol, 2. Issue 5 | Page 4

GAZELLE PUBLISHER’S NOTE It is with deep sadness in my heart, and also great optimism for the future that I dedicate this October Breast Cancer issue to one of my best friends. Wabei Walusiku lost her battle with breast cancer a few months ago. She lived and she fought hard for five years after her Stage 4 diagnosis. Wabei graduated from the University of Missouri - Columbia with a master’s degree in computer science and was recruited right out of university by Ernst and Young before she joined Accenture, the world’s largest consulting firm. Wabei was a trailblazer in an industry that had only a few women at the time of her graduation. She lived life with zest, traveling the world, exploring the meaning of life and nurturing her friendships. She was one of my biggest advocates - the woman who took me under her wing when I first came to the United States nearly 20 years ago; the woman who never allowed me to feel sorry for myself when things got hard. She was my rock and a rock to so many others. How Wabei lived her life is a reminder to me to make each day count. Abraham Lincoln said it best – “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” When you read the stories of survival in the “Women Who Inspire” section, I hope you can take a moment to reflect on the good things that are happening in your life. There is so much to celebrate every day. The mere fact that you are reading this today is a celebration, because it means you are alive, and you can change the course of your life to make it count. 4 Cillah Hall Publisher [email protected] GAZELLE STL