There once were three lovely ladies from all different walks of life that came up and stepped right in to help and support me without every looking back. To you Teri, Dawn and P, I have no words to say thank you....from the Doctor appointments and treatements, to the hospital tests, to the daily lunches, the trip to buy me head wraps, to the groceries, dinners, family get togethers, to the phone calls, and Dawnie's big tears I could not have done it without you guys!

I am sure that I have driven all of you crazy at one point or another but it has been your listening ear that has been so helpful to me and to my old ladies, your support is priceless and I don't think that I can ever say enough about all of you.

Those longggggggg drives to Duke and Teri behind the wheel are unforgettable, Dawn trying to over-feed me so that I gain some weight and P making sure that everything I touch and wear is clean and disinfected, to you all Gracias Mi Amigas!

Back in Sept 08 after many, many years destiny brought back my oldest and closest friend Mech friends since we were in second grade amazing. Just like an angel dropped in she appeared in my life again just in time to be here for me even though living back in Miami. I can't say enough to you and your beautiful family for the support during this time, your calls, texts and the girls visit has been very important to me. It's amazing how easy it is to talk and spend time with you, its like if time never passed us yet so much has happened. My dear friend can't wait to see you soon!

As with any health condition of any seriousness one has to get several opinions and that was what I did first. When the Radiology Center called me and advised of my malignant diagnosis, I immediately had my Doctor set me up with a local surgeon and at the same time I made my own appointment at Duke University.

At that time with all the anxiety and fear that I was experiencing Jordan and I visited the first Surgeon, who was wonderful and spent so much time with us he was a trooper. He made me feel at ease and advised that my cancer was treatable and was an apparent Stage 1. After several more exams and visiting the Oncologist that he worked with, I decided to go to my second opinion.

At Duke I was first concerned that I would be just one more number, such a large institution I was concerned that I would not get the personal attention I needed. With my girl Anna with me for two intense days of appointments, additional testing, I was pleased and surprised with the very personal and caring attention that I received. For me Duke was the place were I felt the most ease and comfort, NOW I was on my way to getting better.

I feel that I have a spectacular team, from my terrific Surgeon which brought me something very special back into my life which was "WE can do this", to my wonderful Oncologist who looked me straight in the eyes and gave me "HOPE" to both of you and your wonderful team....may you continue to help all of us who place our lives in your hands! You have my utmost respect.

It's so easy to get away from our faith and easier to find excuses as to why we can't make it to Church or some religious celebration. Well while living in Miami I was a very committed Catholic, Mass on Sunday's, Eucharistic Minister and made sure my son would attend all his religious events. Then we moved to North Carolina and somehow got away from the usual routines of my Sunday Mass, and other religious involvements.

Well I have to tell you that as soon as you get some not so good news, its amazing how soon you go back to those faith roots-at least that happened to me. I can share with all of you that through all of these difficult times, my faith has been my strongest support finding in it an inner peace and strength that would be very difficult to explain. But I will share a little story with all of you:

In the middle of December 08 when I had my first biopsy I went to visit my aunt and mom in their home in Whispering Pines and they of course knew how upset and concerned I was. My little aunt (and those that know her can appreciate the fact that at almost 88 years old she is a dynamic lady), approached me with a small little Christmas Ornament of a Virgin of Guadalupe (a/k/a Virgin of the Americas) she handed it to me and I still remember as if it was today she said "I hand you this to help, protect and guide you through these times of distress". Well today this Virgin has become a very important part of my day to day life and commitment to my faith, we pray at nights to her as a family, and I pray to her in my times when I am alone and stressed. We have created a small "Prayer Garden for her" in appreciation and my trust in her. Without this restored faith that I have it would be very difficult for me to work through all of these little dents on the road. Thank you Jose for hanging out there in 40 degree weather planting the garden for the Virgin it is beautiful!

Not only am I blessed with this wonderful experience but at the beginning of my illness my dear and special friend Anna suggested we do prayer times as a group..well to all of you that have prayed with me for weeks on end, together so many times at that 8:00pm mark, what can I possibly say but Thank You its your love and unity that has helped me so very much!

The beginning

It took a bit of time for me to actually decide to talk about December 16, 2008 the day that changed my life forever. I still remember with melancholy how I felt that morning, I was waiting for my biopsy results to come in and my husband was deploying overseas for a year. Of course at that time my melancholy was mainly my husband Dave's deployment, little did I know that to add to that was the soon to come news from my Doctor's office. For those of you that do not know, I had never had a mammogram done...incredible I know, but as my fabulous Oncologist told me, "this is the time that God decided for you to get your mammogram not earlier" I guess he is right.

So began my journey into this area that is so unknown to most of us and certainly to me, as know one in my family has been a victim of cancer. Those of you that know me will appreciate the fact that even though terrified so many times through these months I have stayed strong, positive and rebellious as usual.

But before I continue to talk about me, there are some very special people that have made this time for me manageable.....each of them has touched me in their own special ways. Some with a great listening ear, some with tears, some with hugs and kisses, some with hours and hours of wait with me at doctors offices, treatments, some with faith, positive thoughts, some just by being there and being truthful with me and for traveling to assist me from far away. To all of you thank you, I love you all!

All along there have been very special people that have been there with me since the beginning and in my own special way I want to mention them. When I came to North Carolina I meet a very special lady and her husband my very, very dear friends Anna and Bob. Anna and I hit it off immediately both of us being transplants we had lots and lots of things in common. As with most of us that work, have families, we tend to sometimes spend time without seeing each other....yes we both sometimes do that, but somehow we pick-up exactly were we left when we are together.

We have shared many fun times, sometimes as couples, and sometimes as girls spending girly time together, and God knows we have some great stories.

But when I called my Anna and told her of my situation, she responded exactly how I had expected and much, much more. Anna and Bob have been going through their own difficult times as their oldest dog (Taxi) is also experiencing Cancer and he has been going through some very difficult treatements to survive this unpredictable disease. Taxi is not an ordinary dog, he is part of our family and we pray for him and love him with the same comittment as we would any human being.

Through all this Anna has been there for me every single day, at all hours of the day and night, looking after me and making sure that I am doing well. I want to thank you for your continous love and devotion to our friendship and to Bob for sharing you with me. To you Taxi my nephew I dedicate this portion of my blog and hope to celebrate many more birthday parties together!