Portrait Experience Honoring Survivors in CT

What have been your greatest challenges in life?  Staying positive in the face of the unknown is hard for anyone. I had difficult decisions to make regarding my own health and longevity while determined to stay optimistic for my husband and sons.

Describe your situation. I was diagnosed 2 months after turning 50. I thought it was going to be such a great year and we were looking forward to so many things and then we got the news, it was cancer. I had made up my mind on treatment long ago due to the outcomes for some women that were close to me. I would be as aggressive as possible with the ultimate goal being to be here in 30 years or more so I chose a double mastectomy. We kept it all very quiet until treatment was almost done. I had 5 weeks of radiation after surgery, finishing the day before our younger son graduated from high school. Talk about mixed emotions, it was a hard year. I completed my last surgery at the end of November and I finally feel 100% like myself again.

Did you ever feel alone in your journey? Of course. I didn't want to share too much along the way. I wanted to avoid anyone saying that they were sorry, or looking at me with pity because I did not pity myself. I knew I had a road to travel and so many women face this everyday. I was more focused on getting through. I made jokes, went to the gym(every day) and made the best of it.

What helped you most? My husband and kids were my rocks through out the whole year. They held me up and supported my decisions. I also had an amazing group of friends from my childhood best friend to my best friend now and my gym crew who all stepped up, laughed with  me, let me yell or cry when  I needed it and encouraged me along the way.

What are your most proud of?I'm most proud that I didn't let the experience define me. When I was a teenager my mom was diagnosed and I just remember her crying and defeated through out the process, I swore if it ever happened to me that my kids would never see me defeated or weak. There is a difference between mourning and weakness. I definitely had a few moments of mourning but it was more important how I moved forward through out the whole thing. I kept focused on the end game. Its upsetting when people fall in the rabbit hole of feeling bad for themselves. Yes, this thing happened to me. Yes, it changed parts of me. No, it absolutely does not define who I am. At the end I HAD cancer and now I don't. How could you feel sad about that?

What brings you joy?EVERYTHING! My husband Marty who loves me more than i could possible imagine(or sometimes deserve) My sons, Andrew and Jack, who are growing into amazing young men. Knowing who my friends are and how important they are to me.My career is a great source of joy as well. When I turned 45 I reinvented myself and became a Realtor. Now I am a broker. Although I had to step back in the middle of treatment, my business is strong and I am grateful for all the clients who trust me with to guide them through one of their biggest life decisions. Then following my personal passion I became a Level 1 CrossFit coach in September and I also coach women's weightlifting. There is nothing quite as gratifying as watching women become strong and confident, that is truly a gift.Every day I am grateful for what I have been given. My tattoo says grit and gratitude, that's what I try to live.