Ann Camden was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer at 38. She then had a Stage IV recurrence at 45.  Now at 51, she was diagnosed with leptomeningeal disease - fluid of the brain, spine and many other organs.  She is currently undergoing aggressive treatment.  Ann is a mother of twin teenage girls and married to her college sweetheart, Jeff.  In this episode, Ann reads her piece “Riding Shotgun” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2019 “Love & Intimacy” issue. Ann’s story is about riding shotgun as her husband drives but it’s so much more than that. There are celebrations and heartbreak, big questions, mundane errands, and through it all a beautiful soundtrack.  April and Ann discuss grieving, how Ann talked with her husband about her cancer, the writing process of using memories anchored in sensory detail like music, and legacy writing.  Ann’s essay is included in Wildfire’s upcoming book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor.”

More about Ann: https://www.instagram.com/anncamdennc/

Ann’s blog: https://down-not-out.com

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More about this episode’s sponsor Bright Spot Network:

https://www.brightspotnetwork.org/