A 13 Hour Roller Coaster

It’s 8:35pm and I’m pulling into my driveway. I look to the side window and see my dog, Fynn, eagerly awaiting my arrival. He sits there long enough until he hears my car door shut in the garage and then he runs over to the garage door and barks until I open it. Usually, I […]

The Unsettling Realization That Sudden Tragedy Can Happen To Any of Us

tragedy meaning: a very sad event or situation, especially one involving death or suffering ——————————————————————————————————————— It started out like every other weekend I’ve experienced, work followed by a day or two off, then the assumption of back to work on Monday. It truly was no different than any other weekend, until it was. I could […]

Finding Light in the Darkness Told by a Childhood Cancer Mom

When you are told your child has cancer your heart stops. I swear it! I remember being told my child had cancer and I immediately wanted to ball up and cry myself into oblivion. That is what I would consider the natural reaction, however, that isn’t the reaction you are allowed to have. You have […]

Going Into 2020 Without Someone From 2019

It’s a dreary Monday morning. There’s not a hint of sunshine in the sky, it’s warm, but feels damp. I’m sitting in my office, thinking about all of the goals I’m ready to accomplish for 2020 and realize in just two more days, a decade ends, a new year begins and a “new year, new […]

A Nurses Perspective On Seeing Cancer Everyday

There’s something unsettling about seeing the most basic symptoms turn into a terminal cancer diagnosis. I can’t tell you exactly when it happened. There isn’t a time that I can pinpoint to and think “that’s exactly when my way of thinking changed.” There was no tragic event that happened that caused my mind to jumble […]

A New Lease On Life Told By An 18 Year Old Cancer Survivor

I was diagnosed with cancer two years ago today. Two years ago. Wow. That’s hard to believe.  This time two years ago, I was (understandably) petrified. My mom got the call from Nemours the day after my biopsy. Before the procedure, they told us that no news was good news. So much for that.  Some […]

Don’t Forget To Remember Me

Sitting in my office at home, I look to my left at the white shelves on the lightly painted blue walls and hold my gaze at the face of three angels that were stolen from this earth. The programs from their going home services are neatly centered and I can’t turn away. Their smiles are […]

The Little Girl Who Inspired Fourth and Gold

It was a Saturday night in 2015 and I was scrolling through Facebook frantically searching for an update on a local little boy who was hospitalized for treatment related to his leukemia. The night before, his mom posted that he was teetering between staying on their current unit or going to the PICU and was […]

An Open Letter to President Trump

Dear President Trump, Today is October 2nd and the 2nd day of breast cancer awareness month. Last night, I got home from work, I did the usual scrolling on social media where I stumbled upon a live video of the white house lit up pink in honor of breast cancer awareness month. The White House was beautiful! I […]

Childhood Cancer & Mental Health- One Mom’s Perspective

Jessica Ladd, mom and childhood cancer advocate, has had a looming feeling in her heart regarding not just her little girl, Kacey and her battle with childhood leukemia, but with childhood cancer as a whole. Ladd felt that her positive attitude throughout a grueling journey would keep her and her family afloat, but when her […]