My smile story is about my sister in law Nicole.  She has been breast cancer free for 3 years, last year she received some devastating news that she now has bone cancer.  Bone cancer is one of the most painful is what she was told.  She is 38 years old and married.  She has been going through painful treatments 3-4 days a week.  She is a corporate lawyer and still works and travels more hours than anybody would be able to.  She is a very strong person but finally broke, I decided to send her a smile.  I sent it in a box with my mother in law when she went to visit her.  Nicole lives in Chicago and her family is in the Alton area.  My mother in law had no idea what was in the box, I got a FaceTime phone call when she was opening it.  It definitely brought a smile to her face and a few tears.  I was glad I got to see her reaction.  Nicole now carries the smile in her backpack, she is unable to carry anything else due to being on crutches and using a cane.  I wish I had her outlook on life.  She has been down lately due to a friend passing away of cancer, she feels her days are numbered.  But she takes her smile with her to every chemo appointment.  The last Dr’s appointment told her things were looking better and no signs of spreading.  Hopefully that smile with her to everything will still keep that smile on her face.

Mandy