My name is Angela Tipton. I am 42 years old. I have been married for almost 21 years and the honored mother of 8 beautiful special needs children. I am the author of Joy Comes In the Morning which chronicles the life of our special family and the loss of our daughter to Shaken Baby Syndrome. Above all I AM A SURVIVOR. In September of last year I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in my right breast. I underwent my first surgery to do partial mascectomies on both sides in October. We were unable to achieve clean margins and underwent bilateral skin sparing mascectomies in December. I was told we had clean margins and I would not need radiation or chemo. This was wonderful news. My family is an amazing support. June 2010, I discovered another lump in the chest wall this time. I was devastated at even the thought that the cancer would be back. I underwent surgery for the third time on the 6th of July. I am waiting for the pathology report and am believing for a clean bill of health. My family chose to show their support of me and my battle with breast cancer by going PINK, literally. My wondeful, loving husband had his head shaved leaving only a BRIGHT PINK breast cancer ribbon of hair on the top of his head. I have lost sooo much this past year, but thanks to my family I have been able to experience joy in the midst of the storm. I thank God for the beautiful people he has placed in my life and for the healing power of laughter. No matter what the pathology shows, I will continue to fight and will always know that their will be joy even in the darkest moments.

Angela
Hendersonville, NC