V And V
Basketball has held a prominent place in my world for as long as I can remember. I never donned a uniform, heard my name called as part of the starting lineup, or experienced the thrill of scoring a single basket. However, as a coach's daughter, I had a front-row seat
March Madness
This time of the year always brings forth a flood of emotions. I can vividly recall sitting in our basement in Cary, North Carolina anxiously watching Selection Sunday on the oversized television. Honestly, I wasn’t entirely certain what the regions and brackets truly meant…but I would hold my breath until
Debbie Downer Meets Negative Nancy
I met her during the summer of 1972. From the beginning, it was clear we were opposites in every way possible. Nicole is petite, athletic, dominant, and competitive. I am tall, clumsy, overly sensitive, and am satisfied with the ribbon given out for simply showing up. Our relationship has not
Happy New Year!
I embraced the thrill of the beginning, as the winter sun signaled a new day. Remembering I had promised Grant we would start 2020 with a power walk, I threw on a hat and laced my sneakers. The soundtrack to Frozen 2 blared through my headphones as I connected with
Essential Empathy
There was a single moment of clarity when I deeply understood that my union was crumbling. We sat side by side on a couch in front of the marriage counselor. I don’t recall the topic being discussed, however there was an unforgettable utterance. When are we going to stop talking about
Happy Birthday Grant!
17 years have passed since the day that I met you. You invited us into an unknown world. I crumbled when the MRI revealed the significant damage to your brain. As your mother, I owned the heavy responsibility of fixing you. How could I straighten your head, enable your eyes
The Power of Survival
· Infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the right breast · Carrier of a BRAC2 mutation, designated XG1377ins · 85% change of getting breast cancer in your lifetime · 50% chance of diagnosis of secondary primary breast cancer · 27% of developing ovarian cancer in your lifetime · Increased chance of developing melanoma, colon, throat, and pancreatic
A Journey of Recovery
There are universal stages of grief that seem to be experienced by individuals from all walks of life. However, I believe the process of healing is quite personal and entirely unique. When Ted and Lisa Miller lost a treasured friend to cancer on September 25, 2018, I knew there was
The Extraordinary Stephanie
A year ago, I sat with my racing thoughts over a cup of steaming coffee. With my trembling hand, I scribbled down five audacious life visions on my notecard. There were no lingering doubts that these longings had indeed come from deep within, but I wrestled with what to do
Move-In Day
“Heather, don’t drop the throw pillows on the grass. They might get dirty.” A man wearing a tool belt disappeared behind the parked car to retrieve a rather large wooden sign that creatively captured scrolled initials hanging by a brightly colored ribbon. I watched in awe as a puffy comforter,