could feel as good about herself as I did post-cancer.” Over the course of the next decade, Cheryl was diagnosed with bladder cancer, and later a metastasis to her lung. The multiple surgeries caused her grown daughter to describe her mother as “Swiss cheese.” Each time, Cheryl bounced back, jumping into more Sister Cities work. Born and raised in Tempe, Cheryl suggested to Milt that they join that chapter as well, adding to the potential destinations for volunteer work. One of Tempe’s Sister Cities was Agra, India. And again Cheryl’s cancer allowed her to pay it forward. Shortly after their visit to India, Cheryl received a phone call from a friend they’d met there. “Roheet told me his mother-in-law had just been diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer,” Laflen said. “He wanted to leave no stone unturned in helping her, and asked if I would connect him to my doctor. I did and my doctor was hugely helpful.” By this time, Cheryl and Milt had been asked to lead the Sister Cities program for the entire state of Arizona. They were midway through planning the annual conference in 2017 when cancer again dealt an unexpected shock. Milt was diagnosed with melanoma that had metastasized to every major organ. He lived just 17 days, making Cheryl promise she would complete the Sister Cities work they had started together. And she has. Today, Cheryl remains an Arizona Sister Cities board member and leads the youth ambassador Cheryl and Milt Laflen created personal relationships with every trip they took. Here, the couple is shown on a Sister Cities visit to Burnaby, Canada. 48 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | NOVEMBER 2018

Judy Pearson CONTRIBUTING WRITER info@A2ndAct.org program. She thoroughly enjoys the interactions between talented young people from across the globe, chuckling, “I didn’t pick this particular garden, but I’ve proven one thing to myself. I can bloom wherever I’m planted!” To learn more, visit sistercities.org .