Inspire Them All to Laugh Again I've had more than a second chance in my life after cancer. My surviving cancer has awakened in me the desire to make my legacy a one of inspiration. It is not enough to inform or educate, we must inspire ones to survive. I want to inspire other women in the battle with cancer to survive and not only live through the fight, but excel and to live better and to laugh louder and love stronger. Surviving breast cancer has created in me the soul of a warrior, a true fighter. I want others to feel the same healing I have come to know in my survivorship. I am a writer, always have been. Surviving cancer has given me a lot to write about and I am doing my best writing ever because I am writing with a voice of experience. Earlier this year I accomplished my dream of becoming a published writer. I wrote a humorous essay on chemo induced menopause that was included in the Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cancer Book. My international union's women's network featured my essay and allowed me to travel to Florida to do a book signing and to speak to hundreds of women about my survivorship. I have written several essays about being a thriving survivor that I have shared with many breast cancer support groups. Look at the path my cancer has led me down; I am making a difference and the biggest difference is in me. After almost three years of being cancer free, in June of this year, I was faced with the challenge of recurrence; a significant amount of micro calcifications led my surgeon to suggest bilateral mastectomies. I agreed. July 14th I underwent surgery. What is my legacy going to be from this battle I asked myself over and over again? I felt defeated; but only briefly. I found my inspiration, my second, third and on into infinity chances. Giving my breast up means I will be here to reach back and bring along the women that will unfortunately have to enter the battle with cancer and I will hold them and cry with them and lend an ear or a shoulder; but only briefly, because I want to inspire these fellow women warriors to survive and to survive well, with strength, grace and determination to live their lives full out, not holding anything back. I want them to throw their heads back and laugh from the gut. When you are told you have cancer, any cancer or any disease that seems insurmountable, you often feel you will never laugh again. I want to inspire my sisters past present and future to laugh. I will live my life to inspire these courageous women to feel good about themselves. My current project is profiling women survivors and having real conversations with them about having or not having reconstruction. The goal is to inform all women that either choice is totally acceptable and their own personal decision. Losing my breast would allow me to live cancer free for many years to come. I will live to see my son turn into a man and become the musician he wants to be. I will live to continue to share my life with the man I have loved for 19 years. I will be here with my friends and family and I love them and enjoy our time. I will be here to keep reaching back.