Home Page

Welcome! This website was originally created to share my son Brayden’s journey with infantile spasms. The intention was to give mothers and fathers hope in the face of a very challenging diagnosis. Nine years later, I was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer and as I poured through other people’s blogs, I realized again that maybe I should add my story to the mix. If even one thing I say can help someone in even a small way, it will be worth writing. Although both stories are still unfolding, I know God is always working to change our lives in incredible ways.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Part 5: Surviving or thriving? That is the question.

First, a big apology for the HUGE gap in time from the last update, which was over 2.5 years ago (yikes!). I cannot believe how quickly the time has passed. I was not purposely avoiding this blog, but subconsciously…I was probably avoiding this blog 😊. Well, maybe not the blog itself, but just thinking about… Continue reading Part 5: Surviving or thriving? That is the question.

Part 4: Breasties for life…or at least until mastectomy

Disclaimer: I am not a physician and am simply sharing my story. Please consult your physician for any medical concerns or treatment decisions. Giving up my boobs was harder than I had imagined. I feel guilty because I used to complain about them all the time. But once I found out that I had cancer… Continue reading Part 4: Breasties for life…or at least until mastectomy

Part 3: Chemotherapy. Drinking the devil’s kool aid.

Disclaimer: I am not a physician and am simply sharing my story. Please consult your physician for any medical concerns or treatment decisions. There is no easy way to say this – chemotherapy sucks. It just does. Even your oncologist won’t tell you otherwise. Is it as bad as the 80s movies (like Dying Young… Continue reading Part 3: Chemotherapy. Drinking the devil’s kool aid.

Part 2: So…how bad is it? Cancer staging and treatment plan.

Disclaimer: I am not a physician and am simply sharing my story. Please consult your physician for any medical concerns or treatment decisions. After you are diagnosed with breast cancer, there is this flurry of activity that needs to happen. This is why they give you a nurse navigator – because the entire process is… Continue reading Part 2: So…how bad is it? Cancer staging and treatment plan.

Part 1: It’s a cyst…ooops, it’s triple-negative breast cancer

Disclaimer: I am not a physician and am simply sharing my story. Please consult your physician for any medical concerns or treatment decisions. When I was working on my master’s thesis, I selected predictors of triple-negative breast cancer as my topic. Why? It is a very aggressive diagnosis that often impacts younger women who don’t… Continue reading Part 1: It’s a cyst…ooops, it’s triple-negative breast cancer

Brayden’s Story: Infantile Spasms [West Syndrome] and Autism

Infantile spasms – those two words actually give me goosebumps to this day. Sometimes when I tell the story about Brayden to another person, I notice that I almost whisper these words, as if by some strange superstition the disease can be summoned to return when I say it out loud. With that said, I… Continue reading Brayden’s Story: Infantile Spasms [West Syndrome] and Autism

About Me

I am a mother, wife, sister, daughter, Christian, epidemiologist, hippie chick, vegan, who enjoys reading, strolling and staring at the clouds. I love camping, bargains, puppies, unexpected kindness, and taking scenic routes to get everywhere. I hate nasty medical conditions, rosemary, long stalky plants, and movies with sad endings (doesn’t real life have enough of… Continue reading About Me