As many of you may know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months ago. [And if you don’t know, now you knooooow! RIP Biggie] The good news is that my particular type of breast cancer, while on the aggressive side, also happens to be highly curable. I just finished up my fifth out of six rounds of neoadjuvant chemo, and will be undergoing surgery sometime this October.

As not fun as being diagnosed with cancer is, this entire experience so far has been a daily reminder of how much I have to be thankful for. I’m thankful my cancer was caught during my very first mammogram; which means I’m also thankful for all the doctors, PAs, nurses, and other technicians who have provided me with incredible medical care thus far. I’m thankful to have insurance. I’m beyond grateful to my family, friends, and coworkers - there really isn’t enough space to list all the ways you guys have come through for me: from my husband taking care of me, Cassie and the house 24/7 to my sister tapping into her medical network to make sure I had the best info possible, my parents flying up to go to chemo with me, friends texting me, sending me DoorDash gift cards, and Lynn flying up to watch/play with Cassie so I could nap; my BDO family for handling the neverending flow of work to allow me to focus on my health, my in-laws and Robbie’s support network who made sure that the both of us were doing okay. The scientists, researchers and all the guinea pigs that have played an instrumental role in developing and testing the treatments that literally saved my life, all the people who donated and raised money for cancer research. 

As a way to pay things forward (at least partially), I’ll be donating and raising money for breast cancer research by participating in the Susan B. Komen MORE THAN PINK Walk on September 27th at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo. If you happen to have a few bucks to spare and are inclined to donate, the link is in my bio.

I guess that’s it for now. Thanks for reading this entire thing - which I wrote without AI, btw, because screw AI when it comes to writing something from the heart - and thanks for the many ways you guys have already helped me during this cancer journey. More updates to come!