Ann describes herself as a “glass half full” kind of girl who enjoys simple pleasures in life.  She always has sought new adventure.  You might find this “kid at heart” camping in the backyard with her young boys, or combing the shores of Lake Michigan searching for beautiful pieces of beach glass, or swinging with the boys on the screen porch, while laughing and enjoying a soulful conversation with family and friends.
 
Ann is an adult survivor of neuroblastoma. She was diagnosed decades ago, when she was just a four-month-old infant. Her mother noticed her crying excessively for several nights. One morning when Ann woke up, her abdomen looked unusually large, and her mother immediately took her to the doctor.
 
Doctors diagnosed Ann with stage 4 neuroblastoma. Within days, they performed surgery to remove the neuroblastoma, which consumed her right adrenal gland, and also removed two metastatic nodules on both lobes of the liver and affected lymph nodes. She was treated with chemotherapy and cobalt radiation therapy. Blessed to have an incredible doctor to perform her surgery and after all courses of treatment, her mother was told she was in remission! Over forty years later, Ann continues to lead a life full of love, faith, compassion and happiness.
 
There have been some complications related to her cancer since infancy. She had a benign ganglioneuroma in her pancreas more than 25 years after her treatment, and she also had thyroid cancer six years ago, which was treated and cured. Ann is aware that she may face other issues in her future as a result of her cancer and treatment, however she is thankful for every day she has been given, and grateful for the incredible blessings that fill her life.
 
She takes joy in simple things: “I like to travel to warm places, especially on the ocean, hot sand on your feet, the beautiful sound of rolling waves. I love the smell of rain… and I love Christmas Eve more than any other day of the year. I love going for long rides in the hot summers sun with the top off of my orange Jeep, just to see the wind whip through the boys’ hair and the sun beam off their golden skin… and what I love more than anything is this - BECAUSE of the treatment I had for cancer, I was ‘never supposed to be able to have children,’ and have been blessed with two incredible little boys… when I hear them sitting together, talking and giggling… it sometimes just wells up my eyes and melts my heart.”  
 
Ann says her hero is her mom, for all she had to endure in caring for her as a baby with cancer. Ann said, "I don't remember having cancer the first time, but my poor mom had to endure it all. She is a strong and beautiful woman, whom I owe my life to. I know that without her prayers, love, and perseverance, her touch every day when I was a sick baby… I would not be here today. She has taught me about unselfishness and strength, and more than anything, faith. She is truly AMAZING.”  
 
“Alex’s Lemonade Stand is such an incredible Foundation, I am so lucky to be one of their ambassadors.  They allow kids to take part of something that is so big, and they have a great time while doing it!  There is nothing better than kids helping kids- these children don’t choose this battle we call cancer, unfortunately…it chooses them. Having my kids and their friends get involved is teaching them about life in so many ways… and all of our cancer hero kids that I read about each day… they inspire me…. these kids teach us things about life that one can only learn from looking into these children’s  hearts.  WE have to make a difference… We HAVE to help find a CURE…”
 
Quote: "Always remember you are BRAVER than you believe, STRONGER than you seem, SMARTER than you think, and twice as BEAUTIFUL as you ever imagined" ~Alan A. Milne
 
Check out my fundraising pages: http://www.alexslemonade.org/user/204132  

Ann Reiff
Updated: February 2014

Ann as a baby with her mom