In April 2007, I was diagnosed with stage 3A invasive ductal carcinoma. This was 2 months before my 28th birthday. As a young woman just starting a family, there was no way we could have prepared ourselves for this kind of change in our lives, emotionally, physically, and/or financially. But when life gives you lemons you just make lemonade!

Anyway it only took a few weeks after diagnosis and surgery to start accumulating bill after bill after bill. And as a middle class family with good health insurance there just weren't many breaks, until God led me to the Kristy Lasch Foundation. I am thankful that the only criteria is that you are under 30, no questions about income were asked. This was a huge blessing in the middle of one of the biggest storms of my life. The Kristy Lasch Foundation was a God-send.

I have now been cancer free for about 18 months and counting. There are still a few medical bills left but God is good. I am just proud to be able to celebrate another Christmas season with my family and friends and to know that life is worth living!!!!

Vanessa