I have always been a seeker of connection to others and the world at large. I have seen myself as connected to things both small and large. Daily I feel the need to connect within the part of myself that shines bright. Sometimes I feel if I lose connection to the divine, what would happen?

I have always been occupied by my hair. When I was young I had very blonde hair with curly pigtails just like Cindy Brady, of The Brady Bunch. I loved them and I totally identified with Cindy and her hair.

I never wanted to feel like my cancer diagnosis was something that I wanted to report on. I wanted my cancer to go away, so I did not need to think or write about it. I wanted to do anything else but report on myself.

But here I am. I have had cancer many times. It started 18 years ago with my first diagnosis of Stage 3 breast cancer with almost a year of treatment. Oliver was 4 years old, Ben was 2, and Claire was 8 months old. Ten years later it was back again, with another necessary surgery.