10/20/2026
I realized something just last week that somehow hadn’t occurred to me before.
October 22 of last year marked one year of Palm Isle Trading. It was also the exact day I learned that I carry the BRCA2 gene mutation.
I haven’t shared any of this publicly, and very little of it privately, but that news set in motion a year I never could have anticipated. In March I underwent a double mastectomy, followed by reconstruction this summer, and last week I had a hysterectomy with removal of my ovaries and fallopian tubes.
And life, of course, didn’t stop while all of that was happening. This year has also meant watching my dad struggle with his health and being reminded more than once of just how quickly life can change.
Through it all, Palm Isle gave me something creative to focus on, something to look forward to, and something that still felt like me during a year when so much of life was about doctors and difficult decisions.
This week, Palm Isle turns two — exactly one year since I received that news. I’m not sure how I missed the significance of the date until now.
This anniversary feels very different than I thought it would. Mostly, I’m grateful to be on this side of the year. I’m grateful for the people I love and their unwavering support, and I’m looking forward to what comes next — for Palm Isle and for me.
