I’ve learned that no one in life is invincible. After battling cancer three times since age 29, I decided to never give up. I’m not a cancer fighter, I’m a cancer conqueror! Your strength is in your faith. Whatever your religion or belief system is, turn to that. That’s what I did when I dealt with cancer and again when I lost several family members back-to-back. All this loss and pain sent me through the deepest and darkest valley. 

I tell people don’t pity me, pray for me. I needed people to encourage me. Working at Kaiser Permanente, I talk to people all day long. When they get a diagnosis, I tell them, 'It’s going to get better.' I urge them to get a support group that will encourage them. That’s the only thing that helped me. I had to realize that no one goes through life without losing. You cry, and you know you’ve dealt with it when you can talk about it.