Laura Wells was my wonderful wife and best friend of 35 years and mother to three beautiful daughters Rachelle, Karina and Danielle. She was the best mother ever to my children and they are so proud to have had a mom like Laura. Laura loved her family and of course, pets of all kinds from lizards, rabbits, chickens, guinea pigs and dogs (3).
Laura was the President and Founder of Stage IV Life Metastatic Breast Cancer Foundation in Costa Mesa, California and maintained that if we leave love and memories and goodness behind, we never really lose the war. Her promise was to keep true to her mission, pledge funds to research pertaining to metastatic disease and wanted those to remember that she was there to speak out for them. Our donation to Metavivor is in memory of Laura and her desire to aid women and men who are living their stage IV lives by providing both necessities and special wishes.
Laura never gave up throughout the 11 years that she fought the cancer; she was a warrior. Her enemy was Metastatic Breast Cancer. She fought, had strength, courage and hope (and faith) while plowing through the horrible tests, operations and countless medications. Laura was a strong Catholic and believed that she would rest with her God and be at peace. On July 3, 2018 she was in God’s arms. Each day we miss her terribly but are thankful that God took her in his arms and that she no longer is in any pain.
WE LOVE YOU!
Your loving husband, Dan
Laura’s words…After lumpectomy, chemotherapy, mastectomy, and radiation, I became an official breast cancer SURVIVOR in April 2008. I began looking into the medical field as a second career, hoping to bring encouragement, compassion, and hope to those who had also sat on the doctor’s table, only to learn that cancer had come to steal the dreams of their lives. In November 2009, during a reconstruction pre-op x-ray, I learned I had recurred with Stage IV, metastatic breast cancer to my lungs. Devastated, I discarded my new found dream and prepared to face my death. Four years into my recurrence, after multiple chemotherapies, I am stable for now, and receive continued treatment (Femara/Herceptin). Meanwhile, I have dared to dream again, shifting my focus from early stage breast cancer patients, to those fighting late stage cancer, with a new understanding that breast cancer is not really about breasts at all. It’s about life – fighting for it and living it to the best of your ability, for as long as you can. I understand what it’s like to fear losing your health, your finances, your abilities and capabilities, and the pleasures of life, before actually losing your life. I understand what it’s like to fear leaving your family behind. It is my sincere hope to bring some small joy to those who face the same fears, as well as provide hope (in the form of research) for metastatic breast cancer patients in the future. I continued to work part time, until I was unable but I have been fortunate enough, to see my children grow and my first grandson Coda Dean.
