I was born and raised in an Italian Catholic neighborhood in Providence, RI in 1953.  At the age of 14 I walked away from the Catholic church and went on to explore other ideas and phylosophies.  At 21 I moved to southern CA after having met my first husband there and I never looked back.

I have worked as an electronics technician and went on to become a computer specialist/systems manager for a local hospital in Central California where I met my current husband. 

At at the age of 40 we had a son, Austin, who is about to turn 16.  I decided to become a SAHM when he was born and I have not regretted it for a minute though the loss of income is hurting us now. 

Dh and I are both surviving cancer, his bladder diagnosed in 1999, mine breast diagnosed in 2005. then metastasis to the spine in 2007.  He is on dialysis, I am on femara and we hope to have at least another 20 years together, that's how long we've known each other.

I love horses, especially Morgans and used to ride and own one.  I can no longer ride because of my back and I'm extremely sad about that.

We try to be as upbeat as possible but it is hard sometimes.  I never thought I would be so ailing at the young age of 56.  I thought I would go well into my 70s riding horses and planting gardens, running around and traveling the globe at some point.  Now we do the best we can to put one foot in front of the other and live each day as best we can.

June

How did you get to where you are now?

Determination.  I grew up welfare poor, worked my way up the ranks and resigned to raise my son.  I had decided when I was pregnant with him that I wanted to be a full time mother.  Now I am trying to decide what's next.

How do you see yourself differently now than you did 10 years ago?

This is a difficult question to answer.  With my cancer I'm no longer healthy and it is having a hard impact on my life.  I0 years ago I was active, vibrant and had plans to start in a new direction career wise. Now it's just a huge unknown because of stage IV breast cancer.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I'm mainly hoping to still be alive, doing art work and some kind of paid work from home by then.

If I could change anything in you I would have lived a healthier lifestyle.  Not that there are any guarantees but I did so many things that might have changed the course of my health and kept me cancer free.  Mostly you were a good person though and were soft and gentle to those around you.

My friend Pat Wolk.  At 70+ she is awesome.  I hope to beat this disease, live as long and work as hard as she does.

Most of my current girlfriends.  They know how to be good friends and they are all pieces of myself.