You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces - my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined.

I was an English major in college, and then I went to graduate school in English at the University of North Carolina for three years.

People find it a great blessing if their child left behind a child.

I grew up in a Navy family.

I think that it is our intention to deny cancer any control over us.

I would have made different choices. You know, I might have married somebody else.

You're young. Maybe there'll be time for a do-over if you don't get it right the first time. But there are no guarantees. There will come a time as it has for me when there's no time for a do-over.