If you’re here, chances are you’ve heard about my recent diagnosis of acute leukemia, and I first want to thank you for being here.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been overwhelmed by the incredible outpouring of love, prayers, encouragement, and support from family, friends, colleagues, clients, and even people I’ve never met. It has reminded me just how extraordinary people can be, and I will never have the words to fully express my gratitude.

I created Becoming Brave as a place where I can share updates throughout my treatment so that everyone has one place to follow along. But as I began building it, I realized this website was becoming something much bigger.

Leukemia is only one chapter of my story.

Long before this diagnosis, there were years of dreaming, learning, building, loving, failing, starting over, fighting for what mattered, raising three incredible children, and creating Veterinary Vision Specialists. Every one of those experiences shaped the person I am today.

Becoming Brave is my attempt to tell that story honestly.

You’ll find updates from the hospital, stories from my life, the people who have shaped me, and the lessons I’m learning along the way. My hope is that this becomes more than a place for medical updates. I hope it becomes a place that celebrates resilience, friendship, family, hope, and the extraordinary kindness that can emerge during life’s hardest seasons.

Thank you for walking this journey with me.

I’m so glad you’re here.

— Ann