Name: Laura Pexton
Favorite Color: pink & purple (that’s how living with a girly girl 6 year old influences you)
Diagnosis Date: 11/01 and 11/04
Where were you when you heard the news that you had cancer?
2001 Michael’s craft store with my mom and 4 month old baby
2004 In New Orleans with my sister going on a Ghost Tour- the news was scarier than anything I saw on the tour!
What kind of treatment have you done or are you currently doing?
AC chemotherapy, Radiation, Cyberknife. On Herceptin and Zometa since 2004
What is one comment that has stuck with you, positive or negative?
+ I was sad to give up my career as a nurse practitioner. My daughter was 3 years old at the time and a co-worker said “whether you live 5 more years or 20 more years will you ever regret staying home with Sydney right NOW.” – work will always be there but your 3 year old won’t
-Pet Peeves that people say “You’re so brave!- o yeah- like I had a choice to go through this
“You should feel lucky that _____” Fill in the blank. And, It could be worse. Nobody should, should, on anybody else or tell them how they “should” feel.
Has cancer changed your life? How?
“It’s not the days in your life, it’s the life in your days.”
Are you involved with any cancer organizations, etc?
Peer counselor for Y-me and YSC & local breast cancer organization
Healing Touch- an energy medicine treatment for breast cancer patients- research studies going on at Stanford Medical Center
What does it mean to you to Go Beyond Treatment?
I can ‘go beyond’ western medical expectations. I have found a level of spiritual healing, grace and understanding that goes beyond what the physical realm could ever offer or understand.
Leave us with a favorite quote or verse:
Life is like a tornado watch; you can hunker down in the basement and wait for the storm or you can go out on the roof and get rock star hair.
I once had a garden of flowers that only grew on dark thoughts until one day I decided I had better things to do.
I’m no longer afraid of dying, I’m only afraid of not living.
Laura, Jon & Sydney
Thanks for sharing Laura!
Filed under: breast cancer, breast cancer survivor, cancer, survivor
