Jo grew up outside of Boston, MA and has lived in Philly, DC, Redmond, London and now resides in Bellevue. In Dec. 2017, Jo was diagnosed with stage 2b invasive breast cancer discovered by a routine mammogram at age 52. Because her mom passed away in her 50’s from breast cancer, Jo had genetic testing done and despite the family history, she tested negative for the BRCA gene mutations. She opted for a single mastectomy with reconstruction, underwent chemo and radiation, and is currently taking an estrogen blocker for the next 5-10 years. Jo loves to travel, play tennis, work out, hike with her dogs, and works part-time. She has been married 28 years and has three boys ages 27, 24, and 22.
“This has been the most vulnerable yet strongest time in my life. I feel extremely fortunate to have caught this early and have been grateful for the support of incredible family, friends, and doctors. Being active has been a vital component — both physically and mentally — to my recovery. When first diagnosed, I attended a Rivkin EDU party that profoundly helped me early in my journey and knew this is how I wanted to give back and help others.”