Linda is a real estate broker, traveler and enthusiastic volunteer. She’s raised two children; a therapist and a real estate agent. She owns Old English Sheepdogs; competing in conformation, obedience and herding. She is wired with a love of laughter and positive attitude. Embracing as much life as possible has always been her goal…and there is a reason.

Linda grew up in a family where everyone assumed they would get colon cancer and probably die before they were 50. Her Great-Grandmother died of colon cancer before she was 50. Her Grandmother survived colon cancer twice and uterine cancer. Her father was diagnosed with his first colon cancer at 32 years of age. Just months later his sister, Linda’s aunt, died of colon cancer. As Linda’s siblings and cousins aged, cancer just kept striking. Her father went on to get a second colon cancer, prostate cancer and thyroid cancer. One cousin had kidney cancer twice. Linda’s sister Lori was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at 31 years; surviving for 3 years. Another aunt died of pancreatic cancer. Cousins and second cousins were getting young onset, aggressive colon and prostate cancers. Doctors called them a “cancer family”…and it turned out to be true. When genetic testing became available the family discovered some carried Lynch Syndrome; where carriers have an 85% risk of developing colon cancer before age 70. Diligent annual screening manages the cancer risks; even so Linda was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2011. That nasty tumor grew in the one year between colonoscopies. In 2012, Linda had kidney cancer. That tumor also formed in the one year between scans. Linda’s brother’s was diagnosed at 49 with colon cancer in the one year between colonoscopies

Linda understands that knowing your colon cancer family history can save your life. She, one brother and her surviving sister have Lynch Syndrome. One brother tested negative. If your family has a history of early colon cancers; added with some relatively usual cancers; ureter, kidney, bladder, uterine, young onset pancreatic or prostate…you need to consider the possibility of Lynch Syndrome. Knowing can save your life.

Linda is devoted to the mission of the Wunder Project. There is so little research into metastatic colon cancer; despite the fact that more than 50,000 people a year die in the US from this disease that can be cured with early detection. Educating physicians and patients that colonoscopies aren’t just for 50 year olds is an important step. Colonoscopies are necessary for anyone suffering from bowel disease and/or mysterious bowel symptoms. No one should be diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer.

Donate now to the Wunder Project to help find the Cure.