He said the dreaded words, "I give you two years to live," and my heart froze in time.

I have four young kids. To not see them grow up, start their careers, get married—those thoughts seemed unfathomable.

"I'm only in my 30s. You can fix this. Can't you?" I'd made so many plans.

"No. I'm sorry, Elisa. We can't."

My breath evaded me, like I already needed the ventilator—the damn life support. I wouldn't die in a car crash or some freak accident. Nope. I knew what would kill me, I just didn't know when it would happen.

The night I met Mike, an infamous bachelor, I couldn't imagine that years later I'd be battling for my life as he helped raise my four children. Yet, there we were. It was slow at first, but my view on life reverted to something it had been years before. It wasn't until I started modeling in hospital gowns, fiddling for terminal patients, and taking my kids on outlandish adventures that I discovered how to truly live again. But despite handling so much with grace and trying to build a legacy for my family, could that reconcile the most devastating of diagnoses?

Evolved Publishing presents a personal memoir of one courageous woman's battle with cancer, recounting her determination to make the most of whatever time she has left, including her powerful mission to help others facing a similar battle.