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Introduction Text I was a life long resident of Northern NJ, but due to financial issues we decided to relocate to an area that would be more affordable, who knew that it would be Naples, Florida? My husband is disabled after a motorcycle accident at the Drag Strip (being thrown from a motorcycle at over 150 mph, we're just happy to still have him!) I was working 3 jobs to make ends meet and missing my 3 kids growing up......so when the job offer came in Naples, we reluctantly agreed to check it out.....and haven't regretted it for a single second! Although we are hundreds of miles from relatives, we feel so at home in Naples, partly because of our new karate family, mostly because of our new church family! In November of 2007 I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer after a suspicious screening mammogram on the left side lead to an MRI which showed cancer on the right side! Surgery was the following week, the sentinel node was positive, much to my disappointment, but only microscopically so. Started chemotherapy in December (Carboplatnin and Taxotere 6 cycles, with weekly Herceptin due to being Her2 positive), finishing that in March. We celebrated by going to a hockey game, which was fine by me, as I am a huge hockey fan. Radiation started in April, continuing until mid June, 37 treatments, given in the very office in which I work. My job is as a Medical Dosimetrist and do treatment planning for radiation treatments, primarily for cancer patients, and yes, I performed my own plan! Now I am just going every 3 weeks to get my Herceptin infusion, looking forward to the last one on Dec. 5. I have already told my husband that we are going to have a New Years Eve celebration, as I will be happy to be done with this year! My entire family trains together in Shido Ryu style of Karate, my husband is a Nidan and Sensei, my son and I are Shodan, my 2 girls are Shodan Ho. It was my goal to earn my black belt before I turned 45, and did test for it successfully, just 2 days before my cancer surgery. Though I took some time off from training, I kept up as best I could, keeping my mind and body focused on the next step. On the day after chemo treatment #5, I tested for my black belt in weapons (bo) and during Radiation treatments, testing for my first degree black belt. Both major incidents in my life have drawn me closer to God, I feel His power, His love every day of my life. My 3 kids sing in the church choirs, 2 in Middle/High School choir and they sing such amazing praise and worship songs, one of my favorites sums it up, as it reminds us that no matter where, no matter what, God never lets go of us. My life verse is Jer. 29:11 "For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not calamity, to give you a future and a hope".



I power walk each morning with the family dog (poor thing doesn't get to sniff as much as she'd like, but she needs to loose weight too, so too bad!) I also train in karate, along with my husband and 3 kids.

I am 45 years old and reside in Naples, Florida, and originally from Northern New Jersey. I live with my husband of 23 years and 3 kids, ages 16, 12 and 10. I am a blackbelt in karate as is the rest of my family. I am a Medical Dosimetrist for a Radiation Therapy Center. Being a breast cancer survivor, I am grateful to God for each day that He's given me.

"For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not calamity, to give you a future and a hope" Jer. 29:11

Add a Link Suzanne That which does not kill us makes us stronger. Phil. 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Winston Churchill "Victory is not found in the ease of our circumstances, nor in the strength of our own resources, but in the presence of the Lord, who is with us" Roy Lessin
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