My life has never been a walk in the park, I've had to work hard for everything. I've been faced with many challenges, but have come to learn that no matter what I'm faced with that I will emerge a stronger, happier, and healthier person. After being a victim of domestic violence in 2006, it took me many years to get my life back in order. 2009 was suppose to be a wonderful year because everything was finally going my way. Then in July, while getting ready for work, I found a lump in my right breast. I was 29 when diagnosed with Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma. I opted for a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction (I had 6 different tumors). I started my chemo in November and finished at the end of February. I am now receiving Herceptin through October and will be going back to surgery on April 12 to finish my reconstruction. I wouldn't have been able to do any of this without the love and support of my family and friends. My children and I had to move into my mom's house the day of surgery, and we lived there for three months. After returning home, we would go back to my mom's during my chemo weeks, and are getting ready to move back in for my next surgery. Our church made dinner for the family almost every night for 8 weeks, the daycare waived my fees until I returned to work, and my co-workers donated some of their PTO. My children give me strength, hope, and love, my family is my inspiration, my friends offer words of wisdom, and my faith carries me! I continue to work full time, volunteer, and go to school. Nothing can stop me, Nothing! Cancer, you messed with the wrong person!

Angela Southwick Menendez
Estero, FL