Our Board

When diagnosed with invasive Bladder Cancer in 2004 at 47 I was terrified, I had a disease that I knew so little about that I had to look up the symptoms. I felt totally alone and did not know what direction to go in. I remember being shocked that accurate information and support seemed impossible to come by when dealing with bladder cancer. I promised myself if I survived that this had to change. While working with survivors, I became fascinated with the potential of on-line social networking and what it could offer to the Bladder Cancer survivor’s community. I envisioned an organization with its first priority being survivor and caregiver support, giving access to trusted information while becoming another voice to advocate for Bladder Cancer. In the late summer of 2007, I shared my vision with other Bladder Cancer advocates and the American Bladder Cancer Society was born. My husband Edward and I live in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts with our four dogs. I have retired from my career as a Realtor® to volunteer my time to the American Bladder Cancer Society full time. The last ten years I’ve seen incredible change in my life. Today finds me with no evidence of disease living a full life following Radical Cystectomy. And a disease that I didn’t even know the symptoms of ten years ago has become the focus of my life’s work.