June 9, 1971 – April 28, 2008

“Dreaming…you think of dreaming what your life will be like 15 years from now. I never dreamt that I’d join such a fight in all of my life.

I’ll make my story brief. Two years ago at the age of 34, I was diagnosed with Non-Small Cell Adenocarcinoma, otherwise known as Lung Cancer. As you can imagine, I had several shocks. The toughest one, telling my husband of 3 years and father of our 8½ month old daughter that I may be dying. Since I had never chose to smoke the news came as a complete disbelief. I became astonishingly aware that lung cancer is not just a smoker’s disease. Unfortunately, at the time of my diagnosis, it had metastasized to my bones, spinal cord, hip, shoulder, knees, brain and the liver classifying the disease as Stage 4.

Like anyone that has been afflicted with this disease, you know how life can change in a matter of seconds. I always say “I went in with a cough and came out with cancer”. Our dreams of building a home that we had planned this last summer, extending our family and living a some what normal life--were over. 

After numerous tests, CT scans, Bone scans, MRI’s, Mammograms and blood draws, my fight for life was just beginning. Initially, I had undergone intense chemotherapy, powerful tomotherapy, radiation and more chemotherapy. I thought I knew what sick was until I was introduced to the UW Cancer Center. I feel blessed to be receiving care from the team of doctors that I have been directed to, I can only hope now that my trust in the Lord will watch over and provide knowledge and medication to sustain my life. 

I’ve asked myself what can I do to help spare just one mother or father from having to say goodbye to their child(ren), sacrificing their dreams and housing sadness in their heart as I do.”