Participant Information

I was a nurse for 20 years in NY. We moved to Nevada in 1999. I got a job with Sprint as an outside contractor testing circuits and running wires. A lot of my time I was on a 12 foot ladder.

One day I sat down and could not get up. After that day my life changed rapidly. I had trouble walking, lost my voice, had to go to therapy to learn to walk and talk. I was determined to do it.

Now several years later I could not walk again. I thought it was my PD but it was my knee -- I had no cartilage left. So I had my right knee replaced in Sept 2004. I was in rehab and got a call that I had cancer. I had a lumpectomy and 8 weeks of radiation.

I now needed a new direction in my life. I took several jewelry classes and started a new life making jewelry. It has truly changed my life. I now have my own life back.

I love making jewelry. I feel like I have my life back. If I did not have my jewelry I would be lost.