Laura

About me:

I've been living in California for four years -- I am originally from the Boston area. I have a son who attends college. I have a career working for a medical device company as a product analyst. ---PLACE CURSOR OVER PICTURES TO SEE TEXT---

I believe in making dreams come true. If there's something you've been wanting to do - Don't wait - Reach for whatever it is and make it happen! Moving to California was a dream of mine. From the first moment of arrival, I knew California is where I belong. Massachusetts is a beautiful place (don't get me wrong) but I never liked summer humidity, driving on ice, or shoveling snow. There's just no reason to be that cold for that amount of time. Pacific air agrees with me. I need to be where the palm trees and mountains are. California is my home.

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I enjoy fitness and I work-out about five times a week.

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I'm a breast cancer survivor. I consider myself to be a Poster-Child for how mammograms can save lives. When I was about to turn forty, I asked my doctor to write me an order for a mammogram. When I went in for that test, I had no symptoms whatsoever. In fact, I was someone who was very into nutrition and fitness. It completely shocked me when the mammogram revealed a tiny cluster of microcalcifications that needed further investigation. I was even told these microcalcifications are usually benign 86% of the time. It shattered my world when it turned out to be cancer. The five millimeter cancer was removed (leaving only a small dent) and I had six weeks of radiation. I was very lucky. That tiny cluster could have taken years before it had formed into a lump that could be felt by hand. Removing it at that time saved me from cancer spreading to my lymph nodes and other parts of my body. I was spared from needing to have chemotherapy.

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES

During my ordeal with breast cancer, I thought a lot about my life. As I was having tests done, I realized there was a pair of high heel sandals (with straps that wrap around the ankle) in a box in my closet that I had never worn before. They were very pretty shoes that I was saving for a special occasion. I became concerned that maybe I would never actually wear those shoes (maybe I wouldn’t be around for that special occasion someday like I assumed I would). I decided then that I would always see today, right now, this very moment, as a special occasion. I make sure to wear my prettiest shoes every day!

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When I went in to have my second surgery (two weeks after the first surgery diagnosed me with breast cancer), I needed to have a pre-surgery procedure where eight vials of blue dye were injected into my surgical wound for the purpose of being able to detect if cancer had spread to my lymph nodes. I found the procedure to be very painful and I cried through most of it. I distinctly remember the female technician who assisted in the procedure and how much she tried to help me through it. I never knew her name and I never got the chance to thank her personally, but she held my hand and comforted me. I remember telling her that I couldn't believe I was lying here on this table with this terrible situation happening to me. She told me there must be some kind of reason this was happening, even though the reason wasn't clear right now. She told me that maybe it was because I would be able to go on and carry a message to help others. I remember her telling me that maybe someday I would become an icon for this cause. When she used the word ICON, it actually made me laugh-out-loud at that moment - such a strong word - icon - like as if that could ever happen! Her warmth and her words helped me so much that day.

My song called "There Were Moments" (which is currently being remixed for a re-release soon) was inspired by this technician and it is dedicated to the warm people in hospitals everywhere - and the angels who pose as average people - who are there for us when we need help. I strive to someday be the ICON that angel spoke about that day.

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The American Cancer Society - www.cancer.org.

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One of the things that changed in my life as a direct result of having breast cancer is that I now have a low tolerance for bullshit. I don't waste time doing things that stress me or that I don't want to do. I'll never end up using botox or having plastic surgery to make myself look younger because I'll actually be happy to have made it to be old.