I am honored to have volunteered with FORCE since 2022 in the roles of Peer Navigator and Social Media Ambassador. I initially found FORCE when looking for information online on how to inform my children about my prophylactic mastectomy. With a very strong family history of breast cancer including aggressive presentations, I made this decision after losing my only sister to breast cancer at the young age of 38. I found the information on FORCE's website to be very valuable and well-researched. I was matched with a Peer Navigator with a very similar history and was so relieved and empowered by hearing her story. It was a wonderful opportunity to ask all the questions I had. I knew during that call that I wanted to return the favor after my own surgery. Since that time, I have been matched as a Peer Navigator volunteer supporting others with similar situations. These telephone calls have been so healing for me, as well as creating such meaningful connections with these amazing, strong women who are in the midst of making a hard decision. It is so unbelievably rewarding to hear, "I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only one." No one wants to travel this road, but even worse would be to travel it alone!
Last year, I decided to step up my volunteering to include being a Social Media Ambassador. I want to spread the word about hereditary cancer. I want people to know the latest research and the resources available to them so that they do not need to walk alone. This is the reason I share my story on social media as well as writing the blog post, Negative Gene Testing But Still High Risk. I have always been an open book when it comes to personal experiences, even medical ones, as I know that if my story changes even one person's life, it is worth it. In my roles with FORCE, I have met so many courageous, caring and helpful fellow volunteers. We do this out of love and the true desire to help others.
In my professional life, I work as a physical therapist specializing in neurological conditions. I also teach exercise classes and run a support group for individuals with Parkinson's disease. I am a lifelong learner to be able to share the most recent information with my patients and my role with FORCE is similar. I am happily married with 2 children ages 12 and 15. I love to live life to the fullest by traveling, running, hiking, cycling, reading, and spending time with friends.