I grew up in Drumheller, Alberta. We had no running water, a coal stove & an outhouse. It seems odd to people as we were in town but everyone was in that situation so it was normal to us. It was the best childhood as we ran wild through the hills, riding our bikes & just having the opportunity to be free & use our imaginations for play. I think about how lucky I was to be raised that way. I think ingrained in me at a young age that you can be adaptable in any situation. Even though we were kids we solved our problems amongst each other.

Fast forward to adulthood. I have taught yoga for the past 27 years. I studied for10 years the Okido Japanese system of yoga in Europe. This meant leaving my family for 4-6 weeks every year. It was a learning experience for all of our family, albeit a very good one. I traveled to many countries alone as well as with my family & friends. I have been fortunate to live with & experience how others from around the world see us & learn from them. Our family is tight knit but that doesn’t mean it has been idyllic. We have had struggles, with death, addiction & everyday family problems. My story is an interesting one & it goes much deeper. The one thing I always tell myself is “Everyone has a story”.

I am a matching freak. So much so, that I match my morning coffee cup to my pajamas! I also have a knack for story-telling and the weirdest scenarios seem to happen to me, so it comes in handy! I’m a dentist, and graduating from dental school was pivotal for me. To go from being a student for SO long to be a contributing member of the adult world felt so huge. It was really the first time I felt I could spread my wings and shed constraints I always had felt. The birth of my daughter was definitely the happiest moment for me! I was so terrified of labour, and sleepless nights, and diapers that I didn’t give thought to the amount of joy and love I would feel. It was completely overwhelming in the best way. I was so scared of losing a part of myself when I became a mom, but instead, the complete opposite happened. I feel I became more myself than I knew I could. I grew up in a small town in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and have an amazing, close-knit family. It has always been my home at my core. It’s where all of family, friends and memories are from. My life there shaped me into who I am, and leaving it was so devastating - both because I knew I wouldn’t likely be back (to live - I visit a lot!) and because I was scared of starting a new life somewhere else. I wanted my children to grow up like I did. However, I love our life here and the friends and family we have cultivated. We are fortunate to be able to visit often, and, with enough wine in me, my husband and daughter are lucky enough to have my maritime accent kick in. I decided at some point in my journey that teeth were my calling, and got accepted to dental school at Dalhousie in Halifax, NS. I met some of my dearest friends and, most importantly, my husband while in school and life took some interesting turns after that. I had always assumed I would be back in my hometown, but instead, we moved to Miami, Florida while my husband completed a fellowship ( the exact OPPOSITE of small, quaint Cape Breton) and then found ourselves here in Edmonton. We have carved out a beautiful little life here with our sweet little girl, Isla and our misbehaved-yet-lovable pooch Mia. Can I sound cliche and say motherhood has been my greatest struggle? It’s true, though! It’s so unique to each mom, child, and family and there are no rules. As a type-A rule-follower it’s been an adjustment trying to navigate each stage. Just when I think I have it figured out.. she changes. Or gets a tooth. Or learns to walk. It keeps me on my toes and keeps me tired in the mornings but although it’s a struggle it’s fun (usually). I think, as a woman, balancing life day to day is difficult and the expectations are immense. I am usually very put together, and I plan, and I prepare and I like feeling like I’m in control of my life and every so often I realize I’m not. Unexpected things happen all the time that make me realize that life isn’t perfect and it’s messy and in those times I feel completely raw. I feel unprepared and exposed. I’m slowly learning that I am enough, however, pressures in all life’s aspects tests that ideal all the time. That life just keeps pushing forward. Regardless of the circumstance it all really does work out, times does heal wounds, and you forage on. There have been so many times where I felt my world stopped and being overwhelmed with a situation at hand felt impossible. But I kept moving, and life kept going. To step back to reminisce about former challenges puts that concept in perspective for me - which I use in facing new obstacles. Success for me as a woman is achieving the same acknowledgment as a man for the same task. It sounds simple enough but it’s so frustratingly complicated. I’m a working mom, and feel constant scrutiny. Success to me, is doing your best with what you have - without judgment. I think that’s what we are all striving to do. I am surrounded by intelligent, successful, girl bosses and I love them all dearly. I’m SO fortunate that my little girl has the best group of ladies to help shape her as she grows up. I read this somewhere once and it stuck with me - “Just because someone carries a burden well, doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy. “ I think it’s such a nice way to say that we all have struggles, even if some people aren’t as open as others. Also, I’ve figured out life is happier if you realize sometimes it simply isn’t fair; but you just do YOU. Here's to happiness, health, more kids and dogs. :)

Jan 9 2018 diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer . I immediately had a mastectomy. Followed by 6 rounds of chemo and 20 radiation . I vowed from that day , I would always do whatever it takes to win the battle as I know I need to be there for my 2 girls . They need me and I need them. I amazingly breezed through my whole cancer journey , everyone including doctors and family and friend were all so amazed ! I truly believe it was my son holding my hand through it all, he truly is and always will be my guardian angel . For so many years , I never understood why God took my son away from me . It was not until I finished my cancer treatment and realized it was because he knew I needed my son to take care of me just like he always did as a young boy. We had such a bond , like no other . I will be forever grateful for my son .

I am a 37 year old single mama to two precious babies. Troy 8 and Mariah 6. I was originally diagnosed with Breast Cancer in July 2016. I’ll never forget the moment I found the lump myself. The next few months after that are kind of a blur. The cancer was determined to be very aggressive and there was no time to waste. I fought through 8 tough rounds of chemotherapy, double mastectomy, 16 rounds of radiation and then reconstruction. Things were looking up and life was slowly returning back to what could be considered normal. That was until December 2018 when I received the terrible news that the cancer was back and was given the diagnosis of stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. So far the cancer has metastasized to my liver with numerous masses on both lobes. My cancer is palliative in nature and a cure is not expected. I underwent another 6 tough rounds of chemotherapy and will continue with treatments every 21 days for the rest of my life. So far my body is reacting well to the treatments and the tumours have shrunk in size. I continue to stay positive and will not give up hope as I have so much life left to live.

In March 2017 my sister was playing with my hair when she told me I had a little bald spot on the side of my head. I found out later that she actually knew about the spot a week before but hadn't told me in case I freaked out. So, some more bald spots appear, a couple trips to the doctor and a blood test later it turns out I have Alopecia. This kinda sucked as I had spent almost $200 dying my hair blue, and now it's falling out. But c'est la vie, I cut my hair to shoulder length to put less stress on my roots, then a few weeks later cut it again to a short bob, then I shaved half my head for a time, then I shaved the other side of my head a had a mohawk for a bit, then I shaved it all off and went bald for a year(ish). During all this my sister, and mother, and girl friends were very empathetic and very supportive. My friends had gotten their eyebrows done by Kacierainey, and who told my sister all about microbladding, so when Kacie offered a giveaway my sis sponsored me. And now I have eyebrows ¦:)

In March 2018, I was diagnosed with stage 3 Her2+ breast cancer. Scariest day of my life. I was shocked, scared and not sure how to tell my family. I got in my car, I cried then drove home. Broke the news to my husband and we immediately went into fight mode. We knew what we had to do, to be well. The journey included chemo therapy, a bilateral mastectomy, radiation and just recently, breast reconstruction surgery. Our family has been through a lot but we're grateful for each other, for family and friends who helped carry us to the finish line.