Better hearing means

of 35 years, Brett, and their two adult children, and the recent addition to the family making her a grandmother.

“Though I was an elementary teacher prior to having children, our home and caring for those in it has become my life’s work,” Osborne said.

Osborne’s generosity of time extends beyond her family, toward her church community and volunteering with the Mentor Duluth program.

First Diagnosis

In January 2014, after an annual mammogram revealed several tiny spots in Osborne’s right breast, she had a biopsy. It was cancer.

It was the most common form, HR+HER2-, and she had a double mastectomy. She also had lymph nodes removed for a biopsy. With no cancer found in them, she received her Stage 1 cancer diagnosis without needing chemo or radiation, but went on a hormone therapy drug for premenopausal women.

Unfortunately, she had a rare reaction, feeling rage and depression. With her doctor’s support, she made a difficult decision, choosing between risking suicidal thoughts or risking cancer’s return. She stopped taking that medication.

Osborne battled doubt and fear as well as people’s kind attempts to connect that felt like accusations instead, when they asked whether she’d started eating more organic foods or switched to less toxic deodorant post-diagnosis. Osborne felt betrayed by her body. She had lived with intention, caring for her body’s health for most of her life.

With many highs and lows, Osborne relished her husband’s loving support, especially when he’d change her mastectomy bandages.

“These seemed to be to us holy, sacred moments with tears streaming down our faces,” Osborne said.

Second Diagnosis

In May 2016, Osborne found a lump in her armpit. Her oncologist scheduled an ultrasound, leading to biopsies of suspicious areas. Each had cancer in them.