Tara C., NY

My mother, Lauren, was diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer, January 31st, 2017. She was an NYPD police officer, who responded to 9/11. Sixteen years later our family, just like many others, are still facing a tragedy from the aftermath of the twin towers. She was the life of the party, always welcoming, and never showed any sign of weakness. She never missed an event, family outing or party no matter what she was going through. She is our fighter and warrior. My mom lost her battle on February 1st, 2020, three years and a day of battling cancer and she never lost her smile.