Dedication

THIS BOOK IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED to two women who made it possible and who should have lived to see it published.

To the extraordinary Jeanne Petrek, MD, my breast surgeon at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. She turned my cancer journey around from a train wreck to a narrative of survival, gave me confidence that I would survive and thrive, and helped make it possible for us to adopt our daughter.

Most important, to my mother, Dorothy Shaw. She taught me everything I needed to know in life—most especially, how to love and how to be a mother. Whenever I face a parenting challenge, I try to think “WWMD”—What Would Mom Do? I wish she could be here to see this book, but even more, to be the grandma she always wanted to be. I miss her every day. I love you, Mom.

I also dedicate this book to my amazing husband, Evan, and my three incredible kids, Annika, Adrian, and Katia. I’m so happy to wake up to you all (even in the predawn hours) every day.