August 2006 returned from a cross country train trip with my two children; awaiting arrival of friends from France, found small lump on left breast. doctor on Monday she had me in for mamo and ultra next-day, surgeon the next, day before school starts, had little time to be afraid, boy was I afraid! I knew little about cancer, had lost my father in law and several friends to cancer, funny thing was I didn't think I knew anyone who had survived until I began my own journey. survivors seemed to appear from nowhere. They shared moments of hope, strategy and their own special wisdom of cancer...cut your hair before you lose it, get a port, take someone with you to take notes and listen to dr. because you can't focus on your own, be happy for each day, and just listen to the song of life. My two children ages 16 and 11 at the time feared my death too. Sharing my chemo and the knowledge shared with me gave them hope. We also found counseling. My faith, love of very close friends, family, a couple hundred 7th and 8th graders from my classes at school and greatest administrators ever - helped me weather the storm and climb my mountain. Left breastless, with very few senses of taste and smell, and a whole lot less hair, I am here in 2013 to share my story. Those things are not nearly as important as spending special times with my brother while he was dying of cancer a year ago and seeing my newborn grandson breathe new life into my family in recent weeks. Though I do miss the smell of fresh cut grass and new baby smell as well as the taste of chocolate, I feel my heart and my soul is a little softer and in search of greater happiness than ever before. The early morning sunrise is more beautiful with each passing morn than I could ever imagine. I find myself wondering why I'm not smiling today and I have to smile if only to laugh at myself.

Teresa Jordan Mitchell
Myrtle beach, SC