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I'm a Gen X'er from the suburbs of Chicago. I work as a union costumer in Los Angeles, with a career in television comedies. I am an informed woman with gentle opinions, and a wife in love with her wonderfully understanding husband. Looking at my scars could leave me feeling fragile, but I don't. There's a new version of myself that I'm learning to embrace more each day. They remind me to pause, to listen deeply, to savor moments, and to find the quiet blessings in life's most challenging circumstances.

Cancer does not define me, but I cannot deny the soft imprint it's left on my adult life. I am more than a survivor—I am a thriver. As a thriver, I choose to look toward tomorrow's possibilities rather than dwelling in yesterday's shadows. I use my experiences as tender lessons, and I refuse to be limited by perceived brokenness.

Becoming the subject of a photographic series about breast cancer began as one of my most vulnerable moments, but gently evolved into one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. "1 Cancer Patient" tenderly documents the quiet reality of living with this disease, capturing soft moments where resilience, beauty, and gentle humor persist alongside treatments, changes in appearance, and the subtle shifts in everyday routines.

This project hopes to gently lift the veil on the uncertainties that come with a cancer diagnosis and whisper reassurance that a good life—though different—remains within reach. I hope it brings comfort to those walking similar paths. Each time my world quietly shifted with another diagnosis, I was given a tender gift: the chance to share more of what it means to be a cancer patient.

When we see ourselves reflected in art, we discover connection and quiet courage—even in our most challenging moments. Each cancer diagnosis creates its own gentle story that we learn to tell. While we share a diagnosis and stand together against this disease, we each experience it in our own way—each of us, 1 cancer patient.'

My circle of friends has softly transformed, but the relationships now are nurtured in deeper understanding. The physical capacity to meet the same demands at work has gently shifted, and now I truly know who stands beside me in life's quieter moments.

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