Stage 4 breast cancer mom: my struggle to survive

What's it like to have stage 4 metastatic breast cancer? Ask Meredith Israel. The 37-year-old New Yorker - shown here with her daughter, Niomi - knows all too well. She found out she had the disease in July of 2009 and has been living with it - and fighting it - ever since. Keep clicking as Meredith shares scenes from her scrapbook...

I could never fight this disease without the support of my parents, Laurie and Joel Israel. They're the best parents in the world. Here we are in 2006, before cancer came along.

The Israel clan has always been a tight unit. Here I am with my mom and dad, and my brother, Hank.

I had always been told that I could never have children because I have a particular genetic disorder. But they were wrong. Niomi Tyler Thomas entered the world on July 17, 2007. It was the best day of my life.

My partner, Gary Thomas, and I with Niomi living the dream in Miami. Warm weather and feeling great! Life was good. My diagnosis was still several months in the future.

My love!

Skydiving had always been on my bucket list. Two days before Niomi was born, I surprised Gary and took him skydiving. Now it was my turn, on Father's day in 2009. This was the week I was diagnosed.

This family portrait was taken just after I had been diagnosed. Getting it made was all I could think about. We didn't yet know which path my treatment would take.

Getting tattoos three days before starting chemo with my mom and cousin Carrie. That's me in the middle, with the Hebrew words for "mommy" and "warrior."

That's me trying on my $2,500 wig. I've never worn it.

Getting ready for chemo. I spend the morning with Niomi before shaving my head.

Day two of chemo - the day I shaved my head. It's the first week of January, 2010.

My brother, Hank, shaved his head for me the day I shaved mine. That was awesome. His head is still shaved!

Niomi seeing me for the first time after I shaved my head. She was hesitant at first but then ran and hugged me. She couldn't stop rubbing my scalp.

Niomi seeing me without my hair for the first time.

Chemo sucks. But you have to keep fighting.

Its gone!

Me with my best friend, who I met in Miami. She got a mammo because of me and found out she had breast cancer too. Now she is "NED" (no evidence of disease) and doing great!

The pool at the Delano Hotel, the hottest in South Beach. It's the place to see and be seen - and I was rocking it bald.

Well enough to go to South Africa this summer. Gary is from there and he was able to bring us home! That was on my bucket list too - the doctors gave me clearance to go. While we were there, he proposed.

Me with Niomi and my mother on our second Komen walk for breast cancer awareness. The first walk I was wearing pink alone. At the second, my mom now wore pink - as she, too, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Today she's doing well after finishing radiation.

The latest addition to the family: Gwennie the puggle.

I refuse to let cancer define me. It's mommy and wife first. Cancer comes last.

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