I left my full-time in-office job six months ago to work on my mental health and give myself some much-needed self-care. After working through a cancer diagnosis, fertility treatments, and returning to work three months after an above-the-knee amputation, I was drained…

Some things in life are so awful that you can’t relish in them or you might fall apart. So I’ve learned to make jokes when I can.

In doing so, I discovered a healthy way to cope with a set of very ironic circumstances.

After much thought and consideration, I've decided to refer to the loss of my leg and the cancer that lead to it, as a plot twist in an otherwise predictable story…

If you're experiencing anxiety, can say it out loud and are conscious of where it comes from, you are either pretty in tune with your mental health or have put in the work to get here. Now, how do you stop that anxiety from spilling over into all aspects of your life? …

August is upon us. It's my scan season again, and the forecast is all "should" be well. This week alone, I have done my best to comfort two people who were due for their routine scans. When someone says it's scan day in the cancer community, you drop what you are doing and send them all the love, prayers, and healthy vibes you can summon. You cross all your remaining fingers and toes and hope for the best…

It's hard not to feel defined by a diagnosis. Cancer felt so all-consuming. So did being a new amputee. One day I woke up and realized I wasn't "new" to limb loss anymore. For the most part, I have a grip on my disability and the many accommodations that help me live my life. Thanks to the amputation that removed my tumor, I am cancer-free, and my blood work is within normal ranges. I only need scans once a year at this point. Scanxiety is still alive and well, but now only shows up on scan week instead of every week. My phantom limb pain is gone, and any neuropathic pain is infrequent. So now what? …

I will gladly wait in line for my favorite Cinnamon Dolce Latte from Starbucks but don't ask me to give myself plenty of time to achieve my latest goal because I will roll my eyes and sigh faster than you can say, "give yourself time." We live in an on-demand, 30 minutes or your money back kind of world, and it can be discouraging when our success doesn't happen overnight. But that's how life is beyond the advertisements. Most of it took blood, sweat, tears, and most importantly, time…

How much do you know about Sarcomas? I didn't know a thing before being diagnosed with a rare one that only affects an average of four people in the entire country…

Have you said it out loud yet? - It's not fair - what happened to me isn't fair - I did not deserve this - It's the truth, and you don't need to pretend it isn't a valid thought. You've probably been thinking about it since day one, but in an effort to avoid any self-pity, you kept it to yourself, and I bet that hasn't helped…

I was going to write about something else this week. Then I got a news alert on Friday morning that changed everything. It read "Roe v. Wade Overturned." I knew this could happen, but I guess I didn't think it actually would. I sat there in shock for a moment as I read the news, and then my mind began to flood with the potential repercussions of this ruling. As if women weren't already treated unfairly in terms of sexism within the workplace, harassment, underrepresentation in government, and positions of power, now we were being stripped of our right to make decisions about our OWN bodies. A right that women fought for AND WON in the early seventies…

On days like today, it really hits me. The way my Dad smelled after at least five generous sprays of cologne—only the finest fragrances options on his bathroom counter. His full head of salt and pepper hair perfectly styled with a round brush and blow dryer. His favorite polo t-shirt, either blue or pink, and an ironed pair of guess denim jeans; he always took longer to get ready than I did…

Alone with nothing but my thoughts and the city, getting lost in the store windows, stopping only to capture the moment with a great photo and bottling it all up for later use on a rainy day. The comfortable shoes on my feet enough to keep me going. My knee, steady, and allowing my stride to match that of strangers as I cross the busy streets. My heart, full of adventure and ready for whatever the next few blocks may bring…