MY STORY

I have had it on my mind since I first got the most exciting and relieving news that I was cancer-free to sit back, talk out loud, and truly express my sheer feeling about it.

In talking about this, I realize that I have to relive those agonizing and terrifying moments, but it all has to be said. I understand and wholeheartedly accept that God has bestowed upon me this golden ticket to life once again.

On June 14th, 2023, I was diagnosed with triple-negative Stage 3 breast cancer. The diagnosis was conveyed very aggressively and confidently by a team of oncologists from MD Anderson, who then emphasized how quickly the treatment will have to start. We could not afford any further delays as the tumor was on an aggressive trajectory. It needed to be addressed, reversed, and ultimately removed as soon as possible. 

After 12 months of treatment spanning numerous chemotherapy sessions, radiation therapy sessions, surgery, and finally many more immunotherapy sessions, I had done it. I was cancer-free. I had been given a brand new life that I will never again be even remotely ungrateful for. 

I’m still undergoing physical therapy to regain lost strength and mobility from treatment and the surgical removal of a few lymph nodes. It’s a brutal reminder of how far I’ve come but an empowering opportunity to think about how far I now choose to go. 

Some experiences leave you with a renewed or altered perspective on everything around you, including yourself. As we know, how you respond to the events of life ultimately shapes you. They are the true test of your character. I survived something I could not even fathom experiencing, and I’ve proven to myself what actually is possible. Now that I’ve made it through, my work is how I choose to respond. Spreading awareness is how I choose to respond.

I honestly feel that MD Anderson Hospital saved my life. Everyone was so caring, and the service was simply exceptional.

Here is a link below if you would like to donate:

https://gifts.mdanderson.org/Default.aspx?tsid=26369&intcmpid=mdaccorg_donate

Disclaimer: I am not promoting, speaking for, or in any way recommending any particular hospitals here, simply sharing the experience I had with them. My opinion is solely mine and not influenced or attached by any institution.