HEROESSurvivors

Who: Becky Matthews

What: Survivor of miscarriages and cancer and advocate for mothers

Why: Becky Matthews has always been willing to share her struggles with others to help them through their own struggles. “I’ve been a person that people have told things to, but also someone who has shared their experiences pretty freely,” says Becky. Becky’s first child was born prematurely, and through that process, Becky was open and honest about the trials of her experience and shared with others any answers she found. “I would get phone calls from other mothers saying this is what’s going on with my kid. I didn’t make motherhood look all perfect,” she explains.

Becky’s second child was born with a clubfoot which again made her search for resources and share them with moms in similar positions. After her third pregnancy with twins ended in a miscarriage, Becky joined a Share support group, but also became the person women would turn to for help when their own pregnancies ended in miscarriages. Becky had two more children after this, and her openness throughout her experiences, good and bad, with motherhood made her a confidant for other mothers.

In 2013, Becky made the move from private to public, taking on more active and political roles such as being on the board for the North Dakota Women’s Network, on a council for BECEP, acting as a booster mom for BHS soccer, and becoming Burleigh County Commissioner.

However, in November of 2021, Becky was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma which is not curable. Becky is currently in remission and has continued to serve the community through her position as Burleigh County Commissioner. When asked why she continues to serve in this capacity, even with a cancer diagnosis, Becky responded, “To not just be a cancer patient. To go sit at that table and be called Commissioner Matthews, some days even just for an hour. And it gave me a purpose… I’m only 49, but I already look at what my legacy is and what I want for my kids and what I want for my community, and that gave me a lot of purpose.” beckymatthews.com

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