Myself and my husband both chose second careers and went back to college. I was 38 and my husband was 43 and a disabled Iraqi war veteran. With 3 kids, we both moved 950 miles to attend nursing school in Oklahoma. We struggled for 5 years. I graduated first with my BSN and moved back to our hometown of Tucson, AZ to get a job and start our life while he stayed and finished up his last year. He finally graduated with his BSN in May 2013 and moved back with us. Just when we were both finally working and starting to get back on our feet and with dreams of no longer having to struggle and sacrifice, I get the devastating news that I have breast cancer. I am now recovering from a bilateral mastectomy with partial reconstruction for IDC stage 2. While it doesn't look like I will need radiation the possibility of chemo still hangs over my head. I'm awaiting the testing of my oncogene type. Here We are again, struggling. Having very little PTO from work and being denied short term disability, my husband is working as much as possible and my family takes care of me. While I'm so thankful to be alive and to have a positive prognosis, I still find myself in the dumps wondering "when are we gonna catch a break?" Reading the stories on here give me inspiration and I try to keep a positive attitude. All I can do is live for now and hope for the future!

Michelle Williams
Tucson, AZ