Friday, October 2, 2026
After much deliberation, I have decided to disclose publicly that I was diagnosed with breast cancer on Oct. 29, 2025. As many of you know, this caps a difficult year for me, since I lost my father on April 5 and my bunny, Stormy Tiger, on April 6.
However, I am optimistic that I will beat cancer. I will most likely undergo surgery and radiation treatment in January. I am blessed due to my access to affordable health insurance and world-class health care as I fight this disease.
I am deeply grateful for the love and support of my family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors here in Edmonds. I will never forget how this tight-knit community has embraced my family and me during difficult times.
This news has been especially difficult for my 76-year-old mother, who lost her husband of 48 years just seven months ago and now must grapple with learning that her youngest child has cancer.
If you are a woman or a person with mammary tissue and you are over the age of 40, it is recommended that you undergo a mammogram. I had my first mammogram in September of this year, and it detected a very early stage of cancer, possibly saving my life.
There is nothing worse than watching a loved one die of a terminal illness. I always knew that cancer was a possibility for me. My paternal grandmother died of uterine cancer when she was just 45; my father, who was 17 at the time, had to watch cancer kill his mother at a young age.
Please spare your loved ones that trauma; please undergo all recommended cancer screenings, whether a mammogram or a prostate exam, after age 40 or 45, to enable early detection of cancer and give yourself the best shot at survival.
I will continue to serve the people of Edmonds as your councilmember, and I ask for your grace and patience as I go through treatment.
Thank you.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here