To look at Erin Baird with her shoulder-length hair and striking eyes and smile, you would never know that she has been living with cancer for 7 1/2 years. Nor would you guess that, due to her cancer's "sneaky attempts," as she puts them, to repeatedly recur, she will need to be on chemotherapy for the rest of her life.

A busy mother from Waitsfield with an active family and social life, Baird is clearly thriving. So, you might wonder, how someone lives so exuberantly under such circumstances. The answer, for Baird, lies in her spiritual connection to God. "My faith has grounded me," she says. "Trusting the Lord Jesus really has freed me from any strongholds — fear, anxiety, anger."

Sure, she admits, there are times when the threat of recurrence (she's been clear nearly a year) are overwhelming. "But if fear or anxiety comes, I just put it before Him, and go about our busy life."

Baird's peace and gratitude during her cancer journey also led her to participate in a clinical trial at Fletcher Allen. "I've benefited from people prior to me who have participated in studies, and I'm grateful," she says.

While Baird's wisdom stems from a Christian perspective, her sentiments are easily applicable to any faith and belief system. Her advice to other survivors is to take stock of each day's blessings. "A friend once said to me that for every minute we are anxious, we lose a minute of peace. It's a simple thing to remind ourselves."