In 2004, my world was rocked at age 19. I was heading into my sophomore year of college and not only would I be moving into an off-campus apartment for the first time... I'd also begin treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. After a 7 month long battle of Chemo and Radiation, I was deemed "Cancer-Free" and told to go on with my life. Which, I was quick to find out... was nothing like my peers. I was lucky enough to find Lauren and my 13thiry family a few years later to help me fill a huge hole in my heart and my head. I could finally help other teens and YAs who were going through all the emotions I had... fear, anger, heartbreak.
Fast-forward to 2021... this time, it was my rock that was shaking. The one solid thing in my life; the constant, my safe place where I could be unapologetically myself and fall apart but knew the pieces would always be glued back together... my mom was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer. All the emotions were back. The fear, the anger, the heartbreak... only this time, I wasn't fighting to live, I was desperate for HER to live. But, like mother, like daughter... we're both fighters! Cancer can't touch this family without us saying NO!!! No one in this family fights alone!
So this year, I'll be walking in support of my mom, Debbie, and the amazing fighter that she is! Without her, I definitely wouldn't have made it through the last 17yrs and it's prepared me to be ready to support her when she needed me most. I love you, Mom! We kicked Cancer's A** together TWICE!! Now let's raise some money for some AYAs!
