Name: Shannon
Age: 39
Age at Diagnosis: 38
Occupation: I’m a Resource Teacher at Seven Pines Elementary School in Henrico County.
Children: One child, Liam, born 11-13-07
When were you diagnosed: 2-4-08
How was it found: I had my son in November of 2007. He didn’t take to breast feeding, so when my milk went away when he was about two weeks old, I found a lump in my left breast.
Do you have a family history of breast cancer? Yes, my maternal grandmother passed away from breast cancer in 1974 at the age of 57, however, I did not have the breast cancer gene.
As a woman what gives you strength? Well, the first thing that comes to mind is God, my family, and my friends. But, I can remember telling my surgeon, Dr. Bear, that my goal was not to keep from losing my hair, or keep from getting sick, or to keep my breasts. It was plain and simple. I wanted to see my son grow up. I wanted to see him start kindergarten, I wanted to help him with his homework, meet his first girlfriend, see him graduate from high school and college, dance at his wedding, go to his 40th birthday party and rock his children to sleep. So I guess more specifically, my son Liam is my strength.
Briefly state in your own words something about yourself that you want people to know. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. There is a reason why this happened to me. There were lessons I needed to learn, perspectives that needed adjusting, and in many ways, I consider my illness a blessing. It was the eye opener I needed. I appreciate life more, know what’s really important, and realize that attitude is everything. We get one life. One. We can either choose to curl up in a ball in the corner and give up or we can choose life. I choose life. No one said it would be easy, nothing worth anything ever is, but it’s ours and it’s the only one we get. Make it count. You know the old saying; Live well, love much, laugh often, and dance like nobody’s watching! 
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