Carrie Vieceli

Survivor

LOVE & FAITH Give Me Strength

Strength in the face of breast cancer… it is something that each diagnosis demands and sometimes, it comes more readily than others. In the 9 years since I was diagnosed with breast cancer, my strength, while coming from deep within where my intense passion for life is found, has always been fueled and sustained by my unwavering faith, and the boundless love and support from my family. Being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 30, less than two months after marrying the man of my dreams and while pregnant with our first child, rocked me to my core. In all honesty, it brought me to my knees feeling shattered, confused, angry, and fearful beyond words. With no family history of the disease and being otherwise completely healthy, I was blindsided by this diagnosis. To further my initial devastation, I ended up miscarrying our unborn child just weeks later. My faith was challenged and I felt stripped of my courage. Turning to my family and my faith offered me the reassurance that no matter what, I was loved and I was not alone. Each day during my diagnosis and treatment was filled with difficulties, losses, heartache, and pain… but all of these things were manageable because of love and faith. As I now enjoy a healthy, abundant life which includes our three post-cancer miracle babies, my strength continues to come from my family and my faith. Summed up: LOVE & FAITH… I attribute my strength as a survivor, my hunger for life, my passion for living well and celebrating each day to the miraculous powers of love and faith.