2011 survivor profile: Maureen Kibler

In 1990, when she was just 24 years old, Maureen Kibler was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. After 15 years being cancer-free, she was shocked to learn that she was facing a new challenge: breast cancer. “My first thought was, ‘I can’t go through this again’,” recalls Kibler. “I had already done my cancer battle.”

Kibler found the strength to face what was ahead in the faces of her two young boys, both under four years old: “I knew I had to be here to see them grow up.”

Kibler credits her husband, family and friends with seeing her through the exhaustive treatments. “My best friend since fourth grade organized all of our friends,” she says. “They cooked, took care of my kids, and made me laugh. They were amazing.”

These days, Kibler’s energy level is higher than ever. In the last few years, she lost 40 pounds and recently began teaching Zumba. She’s also involved in a Long Island-non-profit, Moms Who Kick (momswhokick.com), which is dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer research and in support of women’s health.

“I learned that I’m a lot stronger than I ever thought,” says Kibler. “My children can look at me and think, ‘If Mommy can succeed, we can too’.”