I retired early to help take care of my grandchildren Evelyn and Connor. In December 2023, I underwent a torn meniscus surgery. I was walking with crutches and fell. I got really sore and thought that maybe I tore a muscle. After going to multiple doctors, multiple clinics, and having multiple tests, on March 28th I was diagnosed with an aggressive type of breast cancer. My fall saved me! It was a blessing in disguise! I have always had strong faith. I believe that I should not worry about things I cannot control. With that, I live one day at a time and concentrate on living fully. I love music and to dance. I grew up doing musical theater. I introduced my four children to music and dance and they all play musical instruments. My grandchildren also are involved with music, dance and the arts! I love life and I was certain my cancer diagnosis was not going to change that. I keep a complete journal with foods I eat, medications/chemo, and secondary effects. In order to continue life as normal, it helps me to be able to pinpoint when the effects of chemo kick in so I could schedule/limit my activities accordingly. I made sure that although I could not taste food (I could smell it), I ate three meals a day and sometimes snacks because I am a non-insulin dependent diabetic and needed to keep it that way. I got a port, completed six rounds of chemo and had surgery! This is how I fight cancer! I have a great group of friends full of positive energy! I have a loving family and two grandkids that give me the incentive to stay up on my feet! I have the best healthcare team who amongst bad news always had a smile, a positive thought and encouraging words! I have faith, God always decides so I know he got me and he is in control of the plan. I’m having fun with some bright head wraps. I'm loving the new orange one I got from the African Store. When I receive chemo and hydrating fluids, it feels like a spa because I get a warm blanket, a TV, food and a great group of doctors, nurses and other staff. I weeded and picked some fresh produce from my beautiful garden and looked forward to my other plants...lettuce, raspberries, tomatoes, cucumber, and lots of herbs! I continue to listen to music and dance around! I finally got a picture of me and my BFF/Nurse Navigator Michelle who really makes my care so much easier. Infusion day is generally scheduled a few days to a week after my chemo to help me stay hydrated. I always say “I’m going to the spa!” because of the super nice and caring staff I interact with. Being surrounded by positivity helps a million! August 15th, 2024 was the last day of chemo!!! 6/6 DONE!!!!! September 25th, 2024 I had surgery. Surgery went well and they think they got ALL the cancer!!!!!! Yes ALL of it! The pathology report came back negative and although I still need to get HP for a year as a preventive measure, I am doing well! On October 3, 2024 I received news that I'm 100% CANCER FREE!!! On December 10, 2024, I finished my final radiation treatment!! Now just chemo and therapy appointments for about a year. On with Life!!!! And like the song says ..”And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance!” [Song by Lee Ann Womack and Sons of the Desert]

Mistakes I made, not doing breast exams and annual physicals. Please learn from my mistakes people and do both. I do see my cardiologist annually, but this year I received a letter that sent me to the wrong building and I was forced to miss my cardiology appt.. Because I had been having chest pain recently (which is believed to be from scar tissue from open heart surgery 8 years ago) I decided to go into see Dr. H my primary doctor. Leading up to this appointment, I received a reminder call that I was due for my annual mammogram. It’s routine by nurses to ask a series of health questions prior to a mammogram appointment, therefore the nurse asked if I was experiencing any chest pain. I answered yes but went on to explain that I believe the chest pain I was experiencing was related to scar tissue from my past open heart surgery. She said I should call my primary doctor and I reassured her that an appointment was already set up for the following week. When I went to see Doctor H, she examined chest X-rays and decided to do a breast exam, as well. That is when my breast lump was found. GOD MOMENT: God moments aren’t coincidence. It was a blessing to have received that letter which sent me to the wrong building or I would be walking around not knowing that I have cancer on this very day. #1 Lesson – Always do self-breast examinations at home. Cannot say this enough! Doctor H immediately informed me that I needed a 3D mammogram. At the reception/scheduling station, I learned that their computer system was down and they were unable to schedule the needed appointments. They said they would call me back later that day so I went home. I took a shower and because I knew a lump was there, I raised my hands over my head to examine my breasts and saw a weird indentation underneath it on that side. #2 Lesson – Look for unusual body indentations even if you don’t feel them. The next day, I took matters into my own hands and called the clinic to make the mammogram appointment. I was informed by the scheduling nurse that a cancellation just came in and they could see me the very next day! GOD MOMENT: God’s timing is perfect. In less than 48 hours, a lump was found, a 3D mammogram and ultrasound were done, and a biopsy was complete. The mammogram and ultrasound appointments were 4 hours apart, therefore, I called my husband to meet for lunch. Shawn was able to be with me when the words “You have cancer” were spoken. The shock was immediate as I know it is with anyone hearing those three words. GOD MOMENT: A friend is near when hard words are spoken, My husband was with me at this diagnosis appointment. #3 Lesson - God is always there. My daughters were told the news. To my surprise, one daughter was able to connect me with Dr. W. at the UW Carbone Cancer Center. During my phone conversation with Dr. W, she shared that the HER2 +3 diagnosis makes me a great candidate for immunotherapy. She re-assured me that the +3 works so well with immunotherapy that there is a 60% chance it could kill the cancer alone. Dr. W. was so kind and spent her Friday evening on the phone with me always reassuring me that I’m in good hands. This started a trend. Everyone I spoke with from this point forward had a story to inspire me and they lifted me up in prayer. I was ready for the challenge. The first customer I called after finding out I had cancer was Mrs. CH. I was scheduled to photograph her twins the very next day. Knowing that the biopsy would limit me from doing this task I wanted to warn her hoping she could cancel her make up session scheduled for her children. Mrs. CH provided me with so much reassurance starting the conversation with “welcome to the sorority” explaining that she is a breast cancer survivor and was provided the same immunotherapy drugs that I will be taking. She had so much confidence in the treatment it completely calmed me down and was exactly what I needed at the time. Days later I met Dr. W in person after having an MRI to get a better look. The MRI results, showed that I had more similar cancer on that same breast in a different area. This meant that a mild dose of chemo had to change to a heavy dose of two types of chemo for the next 6 treatments along with two immunotherapy drugs, three weeks apart. I was told radiation may also be needed after the chemo treatments and surgery that will take place this winter. My spirits were immediately brought back down at this news. Upon arriving home that afternoon, of all things our AC stopped working on a very hot day. Well, I could see God working. He not only ‘s sent us an HVAC technician, but a preacher. He could see my sadness and the concern in my face. We talked, I shared my story briefly and he ultimately shared the sermon from the Sunday before that he said was meant for me – “Jesus heals”. He also shared with me that he had another customer months earlier where the husband was in hospice at home and hadn’t eaten in days. The preacher asked the wife if he could pray over his body. He did and then went downstairs to talk to his wife and to their surprise, the husband walked down the steps into the kitchen and proclaimed he was hungry. Jesus heals! We prayed together and hugged in my kitchen. My spirits were lifted once again and I was back in the saddle and ready to take on the extra challenges that would come my way. GOD MOMENT: Look for angels in the people God puts in your path. They are there. My doctor provided me my chemo schedule which helped me determine my work photo sessions for the remaining season. A few jobs needed to be moved up before my treatments began. Rearranging fall session, I called Mrs. T. I explained my cancer diagnosis and limited situation and was surprised to hear her say she believed that I could continue the scheduled session as is after my first chemo treatment. Then informed me that she was an experienced oncologist pharmacist and that I could turn to her for any help with side effects from chemo. We kept the schedule and I will be photographing her daughter the day before I go in for my port this week and just before my next round of chemo. I know she will provide me with great advice and inspiration to handle that 2nd chemo treatment. The first customer I photographed after my biopsy news, I learned was another breast cancer survivor with the same diagnosis as me. She is in her 12th year of remission. Praise God. GOD MOMENT: Say a prayer of thanksgiving each time a person lifts your spirit up. My customers were not only flexible in adjusting dates, but they had stories to tell that filled my heart with faith and hope. I was scheduled to photograph a client who lived a long drive away to the driftless county to capture some sport shots at their school highlighting sports. My amazing husband drove me there for moral support and to help with the heavy lifting. I had decided to share my cancer diagnosis on Facebook on the way there and then shut off my phone and got busy with the camera. I could feel God’s presence in the prayers friends and family were saying on my behalf. I felt lighter, like the weight on my shoulders was lifted. After getting home I had read through the many posts and I felt loved and ready to take up the next challenge. One other client that I wish to share with you is one that is scheduled in October. She insisted that we also leave this appointment on the books and offered to assist me, as needed. She explained that she knew I would be able to get through the process even though at the time I wasn’t sure of anything. I then learned that she is an anesthesiologist assistant and works strictly with breast cancer surgeons. As it turns out, I will be seeing her the day before I meet with Dr. W, who will be doing my surgery this winter. There were so many other stories where God placed special customers on my schedule at just the right time. Remember Mrs., CH, the breast cancer survivor who I called first and lifted my spirit with reassurance? She emailed me weeks after our phone conversation. She wanted to check in and share with me where all her confidence came from. She explained that she is a retired UW Biochemistry Professor who taught classes on the specific immunotherapy treatments that I will be taking. The same drugs that offer me a 60% chance of killing my cancer before surgery. She not only was involved in the research but her good friend, Dr. Jim Allison from Texas discovered the therapy and won the Noble Peace Prize for Medicine. Think about it….that is like 1 and a million chances, right? A BIG GOD MOMENT. I am learning in a short time that God wants me to use these stories to inspire others. That is something I am gifted with. I have always tried to lift others up and find joy in even the most challenging moments knowing it could always be worse. The steroids I am prescribed leading up to my chemo treatment, HYPE ME UP. (hence the title of this journal). During my first chemo treatment, my husband and daughters were with me and what a blessing that was. I initially thought early on that I would come to my chemo treatments and be surrounded by many other cancer patients. I walked in with a positive attitude with the intention of lifting the spirits up of those I would be surrounded with. Well, guess what? I was placed in a private room and didn’t see one cancer patient but instead saw dozens of healthcare employees. They heard my stories because heck yeah, I’m HYPED UP and how can I not share how God has helped me through this journey. My family was certainly entertained as I talked on and I can still see their smiles and laughter. A mother is only as happy as her children and on this scary day, my kids were happy which brought me pure joy. Half way through the day, three nurses came into my room as chemo was being administered. Of course I needed to HYPE THEM UP with my God Moment stories and I noticed the name tag of one, it was Nurse B. Nurse B was a client that called me last week hoping to get her daughter on my senior photography schedule. I explained my health limitations and she reassured me that she understood and that she is a nurse supervisor at UW Health and just got moved to the Oncology Unit. Nurse B was asked to go into my room and observe a patient not knowing who the patient was. When I recognized her name tag she explained, “this is like 1 and 100 chances”. I immediately stated, "let me tell you about the 1 and a million chance story” telling them about the angels that God placed on my calendar at just the right time like Mrs. CH. Many had goosebumps that day. God has been by the side the entire time and these stories need to be shared. GOD MOMENT: If you are going through something challenging in your life, ask for prayers. Praise God at the beginning, and through the struggles and look for answers through others. He is there, you just have to look for him and be grateful for the blessings along the way. God didn’t remove the Red Sea, he parted it. He may not remove the situation you are in, but he will make a way through it. If this helps just one person (and hopefully many), I will continue to add the GOD MOMENTS along my journey. Regarding my work as a photographer, I love that it fulfills me and gives me purpose. I am blessed to have so many amazing customers. I often thank God for them at the start of each photo session. I will continue to work through this journey as God allows and for several years to come. You can count on that! Even though there is NEVER a good time to receive a cancer diagnosis, God chose the perfect timing for me to start treatment as I move into my slower months this winter. Rest assured, I will be back up and running even stronger in the next senior season this coming spring/summer. Watch out Class of 2026!

UW Carbone is committed to defeating cancer through the rapid application of groundbreaking research, prevention, and treatment. UW Carbone will be the driving force for research, prevention, and treatment initiatives critical to defeating cancer in Wisconsin and around the world. The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center’s greatest strength is its involvement in groundbreaking clinical trials or research studies conducted to answer specific scientific questions about new ways to prevent, diagnose, detect, and treat cancer. The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center (UWCCC) holds the unique distinction of being the only comprehensive cancer center in Wisconsin, as designated by the National Cancer Institute, the lead federal agency for cancer research. Every day on the UW – Madison campus, thousands of dedicated individuals work meticulously to find the best ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat cancer. An integral part of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, the UWCCC unites physicians and scientists who work together in translating discoveries from research laboratories into new treatments that benefit cancer patients. More than 30,000 people are seen annually for diagnosis, therapy, follow-up care or consultations at UW Hospital and Clinics, as well as our other clinical locations.