At about the same time, Linda and Chris were both diagnosed with breast cancer. Only at the time of diagnosis, they did not know each other. An online chat room changed all that, when one evening, while Chris was complaining about losing her hair to chemotherapy, Linda was asking if anyone thought duct tape would hold her wig down when she went to the water parks the family was planning on visiting the upcoming weekend. The two women instantly bonded in friendship, and the inspiration of humor and hope sustained them both through the challenges of cancer treatment and the joys of survivorship.

Choose Hope, a business that offers apparel, gifts, buttons and jewelry with messages of hope, humor and inspiration for patients and their families, was born out of their friendship. Choose Hope has an entire line of Cancer Sucks, and a new Danger Chemo Crankiness tee. Choose Hope donates a portion of the business profits to cancer charity. Sadly, Chris, after being in remission, has lost her life to breast cancer. Linda carries on, in honor and memory of her cherished friend Chris.

Linda shares, "Someone once asked me how I can stay so active in the cancer community. Wouldn't it be easier to just walk away from it all and get on with my life? This IS my life! As long as my health remains good, I will continue with this journey. I have met and made some wonderful friends along the way. While I have never cried so hard, by the same token, I have never laughed as hard either. I will remember all that laughter and think of Chris. And I will thank God daily that she came into my life at just the right time." Laugh. Love. Choose hope.