Also, shortly after I began eating meat, I took a weekend summer job working for a friend’s farm. Tomatero Organic Farm needed part time help at the local farmers markets, so I thought I’d give it a try. When I first started working, I felt sort of useless. I didn’t know much about the stuff we sold: three types of kale, rainbow chard, fava beans, dandelion greens, beets, and three varieties of strawberries (who even knew there were three varieties of strawberries – not ME!). But after a few weeks, I got better at identifying the subtle differences between the berries, and I began trying to sauté the greens, make kale chips, and roast the beets. I LOVED talking about the nutritional benefits of certain foods and giving new recipe ideas out and also getting new recipes from customers.

Then, my husband read The 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferris. He started eating slow-carb, high protein, and veggie six days per week, with one “cheat day”. I was very resistant at first. I tried and failed at least twice before sticking with it. But once I finally stuck with it, I noticed weight loss, improved energy, and less sluggishness in the afternoons. But here was the big revelation: when I ate wheat on my cheat day (i.e. toast) I would get MAD heartburn and acid reflux. I had been experiencing acid reflux and heartburn since high school (notably when I ate muffins and pizza). I finally put all the pieces of the puzzle together: I had a gluten sensitivity. I went gluten free in 2012. I currently eat an 80/20 paleo diet (80% of the time “strict” paleo, ~20% “cheat” meals).

In March of 2014, I started at Bauman College. Shortly after, our world got flip-turned-upside-down. At the age of 31, in June 2014, I was diagnosed with Stage 2b Breast Cancer (DCIS – Ductal Carcinoma In Situ and IDC- Invasive Ductal Carcinoma). I underwent 6 rounds of chemo, bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, and 25 sessions of radiation. I also learned that I have the BRCA 1 mutation. As a part of the reconstruction process, I had my expanders traded out for “real” implants in 2015. And in 2016 I had bigger implants put in.

In 2016 I was also diagnosed with Common Variable Immune Deficiency –  CVID. After beginning IGG infusions and learning what I could do to support my immune system, I eventually decided to have my implants removed. On the Natrelle Implant manufacturer’s PDF, it advises that you talk to your doctor before having implants if you have an immune dysfunction. Welp, that sounded a whole lot like me, for me, the best choice was to remove my implants. Additionally, in 2021 the FDA finally admitted that Breast Implant Illness is a real concern and have added a black box warning warning to silicone implant’s product label. All that to say, in 2020, I had a diep flap surgery to remove the implants. A flap surgery uses your own tissue to make the breasts, a diep flap uses tummy tissue. I essentially had a “tummy tuck” which allowed for the tissue for the breasts. Because of my BRCA1 mutation, it is recommended that I have an oophorectomy (ovaries and fallopian tubes removed) and hysterectomy around the age of 40 due to the concern about ovarian cancer. I celebrated my 40th birthday in 2023 and have not decided if or when I will be having the surgeries. Stay tuned!

Since my diagnosis, my nutritional focus has changed from eating well to look and feel well, to a focus on eating for survivorship, including eliminating toxins and preventing a recurrence. You can read more about my journey with breast cancer on my #teamklb blog.

Thanks for taking the time to learn about me, I would love to learn more about you. Let’s connect!