Mike and I first communicated in November of 2007. We both instantly connected and talked on the phone in the first week of communication. We met in person a week later. By our second date we knew that this was the real thing for us both. Neither of us had ever dated anyone that we could be so completely ourselves with.

At 34, Mike was diagnosed with melanoma 4 months into our relationship and had to have a melanoma on his chest removed. It was a stressful time, but the cancer scare brought us closer together. Earlier this year, we thought that he might have testicular cancer, but luckily it was a false alarm.

We got engaged in January 2009, and 7 months later we're married. People say that we have both emotionally and physically changed in our happiness. So today, we go to the beach under 100 SPF umbrellas and just enjoy being healthy and alive!! I would not do a single thing differently!