My friend Amy is done with chemo. Her hair is growing back. Her spirits are lifting. She is coming back to life after a diagnosis that sent her world into a tailspin. I know this from e-mails and phone chats and a series of articles written about Amy in the Akron Beacon Journal. Yet I have never seen Amy, have never reached for her hand or given her a hug or supported her in the way I would have liked to -- but our relationship is still solid and strong because of our connection. We are both breast cancer survivors -- diagnosed not too far apart from each other and at an age that seemed much too young for what we now know is a much too common disease. We were both 34.Amy and I became friends because of a common friend. Amy's high school friend was my college roommate who linked us when she realized we were both fighting a similar battle. I am thankful for this match-up because my bond with Amy is priceless. She is always on my mind and will always be my companion on this journey that we both agree has been both devastating and positively meaningful. Read on and you too can get to know my friend Amy.
