My wellness journey began in October 2009 when I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Estrogen Receptor positive breast cancer.
Cancer is a small word, but it packs a huge wallop. My feelings ran the full spectrum, from disbelief, to terror, to anger, back to disbelief, and then finally acceptance. Why did this happen to me? I am a good person. I had never smoked or done drugs, I ate healthy, well-balanced meals, I drank socially, I exercised regularly, but I still got breast cancer. I wanted to know if I was going to be okay. Would I survive this diagnosis, would I have to have chemotherapy and radiation, would I lose my hair, would I look the same, would I be deformed, would I get to see my grandchildren? Would I get the opportunity to create my own business and do the things I was passionate about?
I knew that my recover and ultimately my survival was dependent on finding the best doctors and following their instructions to the letter. Even though my cancer was contained in a small nodule in the right breast with some calcifications in another area of the same breast, I opted to have a bi-lateral mastectomy with reconstructive surgery immediately following the removal of the cancerous breast tissue. For four months, I went weekly to my plastic surgeon and had him fill my chest expanders with saline solution until I reached a breast size that my body could tolerate. I then had breast implants inserted and had areolas tattooed to give me the look of real breasts. I’ve never been happy with the way the reconstructed breasts look, but all that is important to me now is that I’m healthy, happy and the small stuff just doesn’t matter.
I am now a NJ licensed Massage Therapist, a Certified Yoga Instructor, a Vibrational Sound Healing Facilitator and a CPTG (Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade) Essential Oil Wellness Coach. I’ve been able to follow my passion and have opened a Wellness Center in Westwood, New Jersey where I help and support others on their paths to greater health and vitality by facilitating therapeutic massage sessions, conducting regular weekly yoga classes, offering vibration sound healing and chakra clearing workshops. I am doing what brings me joy and I beat the Big C.

