I truly believe everything happens for a reason, even some "bad" things.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2007 at age 39. I had 5 positive lymph nodes and was ER/PR + and her-2 +. I went through bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, herceptin, and reconstruction. Completing treatment successfully would seem to be where my story ends - but for me that was where it really began!

Prior to diagnosis, I had a full time job, 7 and 9-year-old daughters and had just gotten married to my second husband 9 months earlier. When I learned I had cancer I think I must have been in a state of shock. I did not have a family history, did not know anyone who had it, and had absolutely no idea what to do to fix it. I worried that my happy life I felt I finally had worked out would be destroyed.

 The first thing I did like most people who need to get up to speed quickly was go to "google" - I typed in "breast cancer, young" and was introduced to Pink Ribbon Girls. I registered right away and got some "leads" on who could treat my disease from women like me. I immediately felt more confident and made the first phone call to meet with a surgeon. Ultimately that was to be my first introduction to what would become my mission - to find the silver lining in this "experience" to do whatever I could to help other women navigate the crazy, unpredictable, often bumpy, sometimes amazing road through breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. What I didn't realize when I started this was how critical my work would become in facilitating my own healing.

Over the next few years I "put myself out there" as they say and had so many amazing experiences. I went to Pink Ribbon Girls socials and networking groups and met my first role models of courage and hope. Peggy Sullivan, who I work closely with now, is one incredible lady that changed my whole outlook for the better in 15 minutes!

I found new purpose with my professional business skills and experience and joined the board of directors at Susan G. Komen, where I currently serve as President. In this capacity I learned what it takes to run a non-profit and "pockets of need". My eyes were further opened to the issues of underserved communities and the struggles that women without insurance or family support face just to get a screening mammogram. I cried when I learned of the women who, after completion of treatment, still felt lost and awkward in their own lives - fearful of recurrence and alone.  

My best buddy from treatment support group and I created a nonprofit called A Place to Heal with the intent of bringing breast cancer survivors together and helping them have new experiences, forge new friendships, and discover the power in volunteering in any capacity for the cause.

Through all this activity I realized that the breast cancer that I had once considered the worst thing that could have ever happened to me had actually become the best thing. Crazy- right??!! I had become so energized and healed through acts of service, I made the decision to go back to school and get a nursing degree. I completed my BSN at University of Cincinnati in March 2012 and was hired as a nurse clinician in the Department of Surgical Oncology at UC Medical Center. I currently support two breast surgeons and have the honor of participating in other women's breast cancer journeys every day. It has been a most amazing transformation of purpose and I only hope that I am able to honor all the women that I have met along the way who inspired, helped, healed, and encouraged me on this path. Thank you for letting me share my story and I hope there is something in it that offers you a spark of inspiration.

Join us for this great event with the Cyclones.