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I was diagnosed with breast cancer on July 11, 2002 at the age of 39. My world came to a stop. I was shocked and devastated. My life was great ---- wonderful husband, great career, very dear friends, and caring family. I was active, fit, and enjoying life. My husband and I were hoping to have a family and were undergoing infertility treatment. After our first IVF cycle, we had gotten pregnant but the pregnancy didn’t hold. We were optimistic that we would be parents sometime soon. It was supposed to be a “routine biopsy”. I can still hear my surgeon telling me the news. My first thought was “will I live?” and then “will I ever have a baby?” From that day on, I learned to live for each day. I reached out to friends and family to put me in contact with anyone who could help me find the best treatment, understand the disease, and deal with all the emotions --- anxiety, fear, anger, sadness, depression. I was lucky that although the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes, it had not spread to other areas of my body. So, I chose the most aggressive treatment possible and tried to move on with my life. I learned about some great organizations like Amazon Heart dedicated to helping women deal with breast cancer and fighting for advancements in treatment. Most importantly, I met so many wonderful, dynamic, strong women survivors who helped me through every stage of dealing with my diagnosis ---- choosing physicians, going through surgery/chemotherapy/ radiation, and learning to live my life again. Women, who laughed and cried with me, gave me advice on how to deal with treatment side effects, and talked to me for hours. I couldn’t have made it through without these wonderful women. And I couldn’t have made it through without the tremendous love and support from my family and friends. Words cannot express my love and gratitude to all of these special people in my life. After my diagnosis, in many ways the world became more vivid to me. I noticed more things and took more time to listen, look, and explore. Every moment became precious. I left behind the quest for a high-powered career to focus on having a family, quality of life, and giving back. Through medical advances, and two amazing women (a surrogate and egg donor), my husband and I are now parents of a beautiful 5-month-old son. When I hold him in my arms, it brings tears to my eyes since I never thought we would be able to have a baby. He is a joy! And we’re so grateful that he got to meet his grandmother, my mother-in-law. When our son was just a few months old, she lost her battle with breast cancer. Too many women with beautiful lives and futures are lost to breast cancer each year. I am grateful for every precious moment in this world. Like so many women, everyday I live with the anxiety and fear that the breast cancer will return and take away my life. For many reasons, I’m driven to try to make a difference in this devastating disease. I’m currently involved in fund raising efforts for one of the NYC hospitals where I obtained treatment and I’m also working on ways to make information available to women of childbearing years about fertility options pre- and post-treatment. I am thrilled to be a part of the Amazon Heart Expedition in 2006 ---- as a tribute to the many women who have been affected by breast cancer, to celebrate life, and to try to make a difference. I undertake this challenge to honor my mother-in-law, Jane Twichell Bloom, who we miss dearly and who lives on in our hearts and memories. Thank you for your love and friendship…and for helping to make a difference for the many women affected by this devastating disease.
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