Dr. the following morning, had a mammogram that afternoon and a devestating call from the Dr. that evening. The results of the mammogram were abnormal and I needed to see a surgeon first thing Monday morning. By then my husband and I are on a roller coaster. On Monday after the surgeon examined me and reviewed my x-ray he took both my Husband and I to his office to talk for as long a we needed to. Well this was just the beginning of my journey. The following day I had a biopsy. Yes, there was a malignacy but the lymphnodes were negative. It was non - invasive ductal carcinoma. Three days later I had a mastectomy. The night before suregery I made pink ribbons. I asked my husband to hand them out to everyone who came to the hospital. I called all my out of town family and friends and asked them to were a pink ribbon and to keep me in pryer at a certain time. Well we had put together a chain of prayer throughout Texas, Phoenix, California, Mexico, Pennsylania. Churches of all denomonations were praying for us. The Pink Ribbons they wore signified breast health awareness, rememberence of those who battled hard and for all the mothers presently batteling breast cancer. Luckily I didn't need chemotherapy and I was given a one percent chance of recurrence. Two years later I had my second child and put the night mare behind me. Just when I was about to plan my 5 year survival party I relapsed, only worse. Last January 2002 I was faced with the biggest challenge of my life. You see the recurrence was worse.

It's like it took 4 years to do what it did.

The cancer came back and metastisized to the bones and liver. You can't imagine how I, a mother of two small children, felt when they gave us the news. I've been undergoing chemotherapy for 12 months already. But I haven't lost hope. A mommy's gotta do what she's gotta do! It's been hard and yes I get tired but I hang on to the "Chain of Hope" that we built five years ago. The chain has grown so much that I get letters from people I don't even know. As hard it is for me physically, during the past year I educate on breast health and I have started my own foundation. You see this is what keeps my soul alive. Clinically they give me three years. Jesus Christ gives me eternal life. So my miracle is that I wake up every morning. Everyone around me knows not to let me give up and when I see them wearing their pink ribbon I feel strong and alive, When I see my 6 year old daughter wear a scarf on her head like I wear, I feel solidarity. When my Husband reminds me of who I am and how strong I am, I feel loved. When I heard about all the people that are flying down to El Paso to join me in the Race for the Cure, I felt overwheled with love and peace. Live off of HOPE! Surround yourself with Healing music and prayer. A good friend said to me " Only 1/3 of your body is sick, thats the third with the cancer. The other 2/3, your heart and soul, are alive and well." I keep the faith and stay close to the Lord. I hold on tight to my "Chain of Hope" Keep me in your prayers and pass along the request. I will definetately keep you in mine!