Mom to Jacob, age 29, Brooke, age 25, Sydney,
age 24, and grandmother to Brock, five months
Leesburg, VA
Leigh doesn’t let her cancer diagnosis define her: She’s a successful small-business owner, mother and grandmother. Although she’s recovering, she’s committed to helping her family and herself grow.
“Breathe—time passes so quickly. This is an adventure that you must
be present for.”
Q&A with Dana Leigh Hewartson
Occupation:
Settlement agent at my own company, Pride Settlement and Escrow located in Ashburn, VA. I have owned this for over 8 years, but have been in this business for 30 years.
What advice would you give to new or expectant moms?
Breathe—time passes so quickly. This is an adventure that you must be present for.
How has motherhood changed your outlook on life?
This life is not about me; it is about them. I started as a teen mom and struggled for a long while.
What goals do you have for yourself?
My current goals are to now heal from my recent thyroid cancer diagnosis without missing anything, possibly going back to school to finish with a college degree and get back to a “regular” day. Cancer has set me back a bit.
Who is your role model?
My father, Mike Curtis. He is currently on disability, but as I grew up, he worked two full-time jobs just to keep our family going.
What goals do you have for your children?
All have accomplished more than I could have imagined. Jacob has become a new dad and is doing a wonderful job with our first grandson, Brock. Brooke is an office manager at our lawn care business and my youngest, Sydney will be pinned a nurse in May, which will be amazing!
What would you say your secret is to balancing life/family/work/motherhood?
This has always been a constant struggle. Motherhood started when I was 16 years old. I did marry my high school sweetheart, Darrin. We are now reaching our 29th wedding anniversary in May. With my family’s help, I was able to graduate and begin a career and have my family. Everything that I have done has been for my family. Hands down, I would do it all over again!
