I was diagnosed with breast cancer July 26, 2011~~~funny how we have no problems remembering dates like this. August 4th, 2011 I underwent a mastectomy and followed with the usual chemotherapy/radiation. It was a long hard year, but I have never been a quitter. I actually worked throughout my chemo, baby butt bald and all. I am proud to say I have been in remission 6 years now. As in many major illnesses, I had a very large weight loss. Actually there was one point in time I was a walking skeleton, weighing 112 lbs and wearing a size 4. You have to understand my precancer weight was over 200lbs and I wore 1-2x. As my health improved, unfortunately the wweight started creeping up. Finding this group has been such an inspiration, I know I will succeed.
So beating the beast was my first blessing, but it only gets better. This is a long story short~~I was adopted when I was 2 days of, and had the best of the best with the awesome parents that adopted me. My folks actually had 3 kids in diapers at the age of 45. I had 2 brothers that were also adopted. (not biological) I was able to obtain my original birth certificate from Illinois recently, and although there was basically no identifiying information, it did have the name I was given by by birth mother. Fast forward...August 1, 2017 I learned I had a sister, nieces, nephews, cousins~~the whole sha-bang!!!! I flew to Missouri to the most glorious renunion imaginable. I was welcomed with open arms by all, and so began the new chapter in my life. There isn't a day that goes by that I haven't talked to my sister...after all we have 60 years to catch up on.
So you see, I have been doubly blessed, and now that I have found this group to give me inspiration/motivation, I plan on being here a long time to continue with a new chapter in my life.
Jane Smith
Lynn Haven, Florida