I was raised in a small village in Ireland, where the air was clean and fresh. My mom cooked our meals every day from scratch. She owned the local grocery store, and we had fresh fruit and vegetables every day.

Me at seven years old.

I started working in the shop when I was six years old, every day after school, every weekend and holiday until I went to college. And every few years, my mom changed the shop flooring to have a fresh new surface for her customers.

Neither of us knew about the cancer-causing chemicals in vinyl flooring at that time. I know my mom would never have brought anything into our home that caused anyone any harm, especially her children! But after my second cancer diagnosis many years later, I read about cancer-causing chemicals in vinyl flooring and was horrified that anyone would manufacture a product that would harm anyone.

I cannot pinpoint my cancer to the vinyl flooring with 100 percent certainty, but I know my cancers were not hereditary, and I had a healthy diet and lifestyle growing up.

Now, a proud resident of Austin, Texas, I advocate for healthy materials and healthy lifestyles in not just my professional life as founder of Green for a Reason, but also within my local communities.

I am honored to be the President of Capital of Texas Team Survivor women’s cancer group. I am a Zero Waste Block Leader in Austin, and I am part of the minimalist and vegan communities. I like being able to teach by example the practical, tangible ways we can all contribute to a higher standard of living: I’ve hosted a couple of free breakfasts for approximately 80 people each, bringing cups, plates, food, banana leaves, and a composting bin — creating no trash and nothing going to the landfill. I’m grateful for programs like the TRUE certification for zero waste, too: While it’s important to educate on and practice zero waste at home, it’s also imperative to scale those practices on a more macro level.

All over the United States, home energy performance and savings have reached unbelievable heights through LEED and green building strategies. Now I believe it is time for the health of our homes to catch up.

But I’ve found that personally, living a zero-waste lifestyle has gotten a little more difficult lately. Before COVID-19, my weekly grocery shopping was nearly 100% zero waste — the only items I couldn’t get in bulk or package-free were seaweed and young coconuts. Now, I am sad to say I end up bringing home packaging. Of course, it goes into its appropriate recycling containers, but it is not the same as not creating any trash at all. Before COVID-19, I would regularly air out our home but was not a fanatic about it. But now, the second the outdoor temperature is below 75 degrees, the windows are flung open, creating a cross breeze in our home.

All over the United States, home energy performance and savings have reached unbelievable heights through LEED and green building strategies. Now I believe it is time for the health of our homes to catch up.

If our home environments were healthier, our lifestyles would be healthier. It’s that simple.

In 2017, over 5 million people in the United States died from cancer, with nearly 2 million new cases annually. Less than 10 percent of cancers are hereditary, which leaves us with over 4.5 million cancers caused by environment and lifestyle. If our home environments were healthier, our lifestyles would be healthier. It’s that simple. The disastrous consequences of toxic chemicals off-gassing in our homes is undeniable, especially as we spend 90 percent of our lives indoors.

When the U.S. Green Building Council announced its new vision in May centered around health, I knew it was the right direction. After all, as a two-time cancer survivor, I know firsthand the importance of making sure our materials are healthy since they directly impact our own health. I never want anyone to go through what I went through. It wasn’t until after my second, severe cancer diagnosis, grueling treatment, and recovery that I found out about the cancer-causing chemicals in products used to build, furnish, and decorate our homes. It became my mission to share this information so that people, especially parents, have the knowledge and opportunity to do right for their human and fur babies. Leading long and healthy lives is not a privilege — it’s a right for everyone, regardless of background or circumstance.

I have since changed my lifestyle to a vegan diet (favoring raw vegan), exercising (I have an addiction to rowing, which I only found four years ago! I row on Lady Bird Lake with Austin Rowing Club), and being aware of the cancer-causing chemicals in products.

Since I have made those changes, I have never felt so good — I feel like I am flying. It is such a natural high: Life is just so much better. I believe sharing my story and setting an example will help others live a healthier and more sustainable life for ourselves and future generations.