TODAY'S TMJ4 is teaming up with Aurora Health Care for a very important event this weekend. 'Celebrating Life' day is Saturday at Miller Park.

Cancer changes every life it touches. In this case, we talked to a woman who says it actually changed hers for the better.

Talk to Leslie Biernat 5 years ago, and you'd never guess she'd be a triathlete today!

"I never really liked to run, swim, or bike much," Leslie admits.

Since then she has completed the Chicago Triathlon, and is now training for an ironman. Her son Kyle is proud of his mom.

"I'm just so happy for her. She can do all of that after she's been through all this. She's a very big inspiration to me and other people," he says.

It all started with a breast cancer diagnosis.

Leslie admits she was shocked, "I mean you have your whole life ahead of you, and now...You would never think you'd be diagnosed with cancer when you're young, healthy."

The hardest part for Leslie was telling her boys, who were only 6 and 8 at the time.

"I was wondering why. Was my mom gonna die or something, because you know, I'm a little kid, I don't know what's going on," Kyle explains.

Leslie had chemo, radiation, and a lumpectomy. She eventually decided to have reconstructive surgery. Dr. Wendy Mikkelson is director of the Breast Health Center at St. Luke's.

"She made an excellent decision for herself, and that's the message I would hope people would take from her situation. Take the time you need to make the best decision for yourself," Dr. Mikkelson suggests.

"To me, the reconstruction and everything, wasn't about a cancer surgery, it was about rebuilding myself as a woman," Leslie says.

Leslie documented those feelings in a journal that she published last year.

"Basically I tell women everyday, just write down your thoughts and feelings, it's kind of hard to express to people how you feel about something," Leslie explains.

Triathlete....author....motivational speaker. It's a life Leslie only found after she faced death.

"One thing about a cancer diagnosis...it's a blessing. Because we learn, we have the advantage, we learn the purpose of life, we learn how to live," Leslie says.

Her son adds, "She's an awesome mom. I could never ask for another mom."

Leslie also has a website. You can donate to help cancer patients pay for routine cost-of-living expenses.

Again, Celebrating Life day is Saturday at Miller Park from 11-4. It's completely free, and open to anyone whose life has been touched by cancer.