June 16, 2009 the radiologist turned his head from the film to me. I can’t tell you the date of the formal breast cancer diagnosis, but June 16th is the day I knew. I went back to Casey’s to pick up Liam. They had gone for a walk, so I plopped down on her hammock on the porch, put my feet up and looking up past my red toenails said, “So this is it, huh? You’re putting this in my lap?” That was my first icy conversation with the Man who can take anything.

June 16, 2010 is in three days. Putting Liam to bed the last few nights, he rubs my curly head and says, “Mom, your hair is so soft and beautiful. Your lips are beautiful. Your whole body is beautiful.” There are few obstacles or filters between this child’s heart and what moves over his lips.