One year ago today, July 3rd 2009, I was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. I was 43 years old and a wife for 19 years and a mommy for our four children ages, 17, 14, 10 and 18 months. We had lost our stillborn daughter in 2007. I had gone for my yearly well-women check and got the thumbs up that everything looked good. Four days later I felt a strong impression that I needed to do a breast exam . I found a lump in my left breast. This past year has been very difficult. However, it has been a year filled with blessings and life lessons that I could not get any other way. I had 6 rounds of chemo (TAC). That was followed by a bi-lateral mastectomy (cancer was found in both breasts). I had many complications following my bi-lateral. I ended up in the hospital for 6 weeks and nearly lost my life. I'm doing all that I can do to regain my health again so that I can be prepared for reconstruction surgery in the fall...after we take our daughter to college. I have completely changed my eating habits. I'm doing yoga and reading everything that I can get my hands on to become a stronger person. I still have a long road ahead, but I know that I will continue to be blessed by my Heavenly Father, family and friends. It may seem crazy to say this, but I think that breast cancer was probably the best thing that could have happened to me. My family and I are so much stronger, love and appreciate life and each other so much more and have been blessed through the most difficult of times.

Joy Winn
Rowlett, TX