Hello! Thank you for visiting my site. My family is on a journey we didn’t plan. I have breast cancer that has spread to my lymph nodes. We’re hopeful, but the road ahead will be difficult.

THE ROAD AHEAD

Right now, the plan is that I will have five months of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, six weeks of daily radiation, and—if that goes well—lifetime meds and possibly a oophorectomy (ovaries). We have two goals: “no evidence of disease” (NED) on my scans and no estrogen in my body. The protocol above has worked for thousands of women like me. I am getting this treatment at a top-25-in-the-nation cancer center at U.T. Southwestern. My oncologist is a midwesterner and fellow nerd (U. Chicago, chief resident, fellowship at A&M, etc.), so I am in great hands.

WHAT THIS FUNDRAISER IS FOR

Family and friends have been asking how they can help us get through the next nine months, especially the things that have to be done, like medical costs and meals. This fund will help with that. We’ll be paying our UTSW bills as they arrive. Meals are tricky with chemo- and two little kids. And, a friend helped us find a local cook who will make some meals for us.

MY STORY, OUR FAMILY STORY

If you're just getting to know me, or in case it's been a while. Here's more about me and my family.

I was raised in a small town in northern Ohio (go Buckeyes!). I played tennis and was a Future Teachers of America member and Future Homemakers of America state officer. In college at Capital U., I joined the campus newspaper and debate team. After graduation, I stayed on to coach the team and started graduate school. I also began working with the New York Urban Debate League (NYUDL).

In 2001, I put my PhD program on hold and moved to the Bronx to coach NYUDL students full time. In 2006, I finished my PhD and got to teach at universities in Manhattan (Baruch College) and El Paso (UTEP, go Miners!). In 2011-12, we realized we needed to help my parents-in-law. So, I got a library science degree at Texas Woman’s for flexibility, and then a job at the Yale Law School (YLS) Library. I got to teach at YLS and Southern Connecticut State. My YLS colleagues urged me to get a law degree, so I got one from Quinnipiac (go Bobcats!). To gain some legal experience, I passed the bar, clerked for a judge in the federal district court of Connecticut, and fought the Department of Defense to upgrade the discharges of service members with PTSD and other service traumas as an attorney for the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center. Then, I returned to teaching, first at Wesleyan U. and now at U. North Texas (go Mean Green!), where I run the law librarianship program.

While all of this was happening, I met the love of my life (Jen) and we had twins!!! George and Della joined us in 2017. They are the best kids—smart, funny, kind, goofy. George loves soccer and video games and has a pack of buddies that keep him running. Della loves art and animals and video games and is a friend to all. Together and with Grammy Rene and other family and friends, we do family piano, camping, traveling, read Harry Potter, and watch 1980s cartoons (the Littles, right now). Family life is my favorite adventure of all.

Thank you for your love and support. I truly feel it. I think that love is a protective force and that I have a fighting chance in this because of the love you all are sending me.