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LifeList Amber

Amber

Active LifeList Participant

In January of 2021, when I was 23 years old, I had to be rushed to the hospital and deliver my baby six weeks early. They released me from the hospital and my daughter stayed in the NICU. A few days after she was born I was still in extreme pain so I went back to the hospital, where they found a mass larger than a softball on my pancreas. The hospital didn’t know what it was so I had to be transferred from the hospital where my daughter was to a new hospital. They did a biopsy and, just one week after giving birth, I was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma. I began treatment right away while my daughter was still in the NICU in another hospital. I went through a year of treatment and then had surgery followed by radiation. I was declared cancer free after this. In August of 2022, I relapsed, went through treatment again, and was told I was cancer free again in May of 2023. In July, scans showed that the cancer was back and I am in treatment again. Doctors say a cure is very unlikely and this chemo is just hoping to extend what I have left of my life.

Amber’s LifeList:

  1. Trip with her husband

LifeList Alyson

Alyson

Active LifeList Participant

My cancer journey began in November of 2022 when I discovered a small lump in my breast while taking a shower. The moment I felt that lump, a wave of fear and uncertainty washed over me. I immediately sought medical attention and underwent an ultrasound. To my dismay, I was advised to monitor the lump for three long months before retesting. During that waiting period, anxiety gnawed at me as I juggled the responsibilities of motherhood, work, and the looming possibility of cancer. When the time finally came for the retest, we also decided to biopsy the lump for a clearer diagnosis. On March 21st, 2023, my life was forever changed when the biopsy results confirmed what I had feared: I had breast cancer. The subsequent months have been an arduous journey, one filled with countless doctor’s appointments, chemotherapy sessions, and the physical and emotional toll that cancer brings. There have been many “speed bumps” along the way, moments when I questioned my strength and resilience. Yet, through it all, I remain hopeful. With the unwavering support of my medical team and the grace of God, I know that I will overcome this challenge. It’s a surreal experience, as I never imagined that cancer would become a part of my life, especially at such a young age. My family’s history with breast cancer has cast a shadow, with the loss of a paternal aunt and the survival of another, but they faced this battle in their later years. Despite the odds, I am determined to emerge from this chapter as a survivor, ensuring that cancer will not define my story but rather serve as a testament to my strength and God’s power!

Alyson’s LifeList:

  1. Stay at Animal Kingdom Resort’s
  2. Savannah View Room
  3. Visit Kennedy Space Center
LifeList Nikki

Nikki

Active LifeList Participant

On October 6, 2020, my world was turned upside down when I learned I had metastatic breast cancer at the age of 33. It went from just breast cancer to stage 4 and had spread to my sternum. I have been through chemo, radiation, and a left mastectomy. Treatment was not easy as I had a ton of reactions and infections. I am now 36 and in menopause. I get injections and treatments every few weeks. We need to have a surrogate to have a baby.

Nikki’s LifeList:

  1. Phillies Playoff Tickets
  2. World Series Tickets
LifeList Mieisha

Mieisha

Active LifeList Participant

In January 2023,  I went to the hospital with extreme pelvic and back pain. After doing several tests, several tumors were found in my stomach, spleen, colon, and pelvic area, but I still did not have a definitive diagnosis. After more tests, I was finally diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer called DSRCT. I have had one surgery so far, and have started chemo to mitigate the spread of this disease.

Mieisha’s LifeList:

  1. PlayStation 5 games
  2.  Diamond bracelet
  3.  Queen comfort set
  4.  Clothes and shoes
LifeList Katie

Katie

Active LifeList Participant

In January 2023, at the age of 25, I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. I had no prior conditions, and my symptoms were asymptomatic, so my diagnosis was a big surprise. I went through 4 rounds of chemotherapy in the Spring, followed by an esophagectomy this past June. I am currently waiting to hear back about the best way to continue my treatment. 

Katie’s LifeList:

  1. A Trip to Hawaii

LifeList Emily

Emily

Active LifeList Participant

In June of 2021, at 28 years old, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. In July of 2023, at 30 years old, I was diagnosed again, as the cancer had returned in my sternum. I have already completed radiation for the second time, and I’m currently receiving chemotherapy again as well. Once I finish chemotherapy, I’ll continue to receive infusions for a year. After that, I’ll continue endocrine therapy and have scans every few months to monitor.

Agustin’s LifeList:

  1. Trip to Hawaii with her Husband

LifeList Doug

Doug

Active LifeList Participant

It was April of 2021 when I went to the emergency room with back pain that wouldn’t go away. Little did I know that this visit would change my life forever. After an MRI, the doctors discovered a mass in my spinal column. They told me to see a neurosurgeon as soon as possible and I didn’t waste any time. In May of 2021, I underwent my first spine surgery, followed by physical rehabilitation and therapy. I hoped for the best and assumed the tumor was benign, as suggested by my medical team, but the biopsy results received shortly after revealed a difficult and rare diagnosis. Over the next year, I underwent radiation, chemotherapy, and trial drugs, doing everything I could to regain my strength (which I did). Unfortunately, a routine follow-up MRI scan in August of 2022 revealed that the tumor had returned. In December 2022, I underwent another surgery. Post-surgery, I was making progress, but then in January 2023, I experienced a sharp decline in function in my legs. I was unable to stand unaided or walk any longer. The tumor was growing again. Throughout this whole experience, my young son has been my motivation. I want to be strong for him and show him that you never give up, no matter what life throws at you. Even though I’m now in a wheelchair, I’m learning to adjust to my new reality and continuing to fight for a brighter future for myself and my family. Every day is a new challenge, but I’m taking them on one at a time. I’m grateful for the support of my loved ones and the medical professionals who have/continue to help me along the way and, of course, my #1 side kick and “Big Helper” son.

Doug’s LifeList:

  1. Wheelchair Attachment

LifeList Jamie

Jamie

Active LifeList Participant

I turned 31 in February and in March I went for a wellness checkup with my PCP when I mentioned to her an abnormality I wasn’t sure I was feeling in my right breast. She did a breast exam and referred me for an ultrasound. The ultrasound revealed that it was abnormal and that same day I had imaging and a biopsy done. I was diagnosed with stage 1 grade 3 triple negative breast cancer in my right breast. I was told chemo is the required treatment option due to this type of cancer only responding to chemo. Genetic testing revealed I had the BRCA 1 gene so double mastectomy was recommended after completion of chemo due to my high risk of breast cancer returning. A hysterectomy is currently the treatment plan by the age of 40 due to the additional high risk of ovarian cancer. Before I started chemo I had to do fertility treatment and egg retrieval to freeze my eggs. That was a very expensive experience that was not covered by insurance despite my diagnosis, so I was immediately put into debt to start my journey back to health.I have completed chemo and had my first surgery which was a double mastectomy. I still need to undergo reconstruction and my pathology report results revealed to my oncologist that medication is now recommended to take for the following year.

Jamie’s LifeList:

  1. Trip

LifeList Kayla

Kayla

Active LifeList Participant

At the end of 2022, I was 31 and I felt a lump. I had a mammogram in December of 2022 and then a biopsy in January of 2023. I was on a work trip when I received the news – cancer. We did a round of IVF, double mastectomy, 4 rounds of chemo and now I’m currently on hormone therapy for 10 years. In 2024, I will have reconstruction surgery.

Kayla’s LifeList:

  1. Trip to New York / Niagara Falls

  2. 2 Tickets to a Taylor Swift Concert

LifeList Alyssa

Alyssa

Active LifeList Participant

I was diagnosed about a year ago, when I was 17 years old. I had to go through a lot of chemotherapy. I was first diagnosed as stage 2, but they saw progression from the breast to the sternum, causing me to be stage four. I had many scans, a lot of chemo and a lot of bloodwork. I then had surgery and radiation. My current treatment plan is to reach for cure and I am going through hormone therapy. The hardest part was seeing my mom die from this one month before I was diagnosed. I was still in school fighting a cancer that no one even thinks twice about a teenager fighting. Going through treatment while everyone around you lives their normal lives sucks. It’s hard. This cancer has made my life normal, but not everyone else’s normal. It’s hard to be able to do everything that someone my age would do, because I wasn’t able to for so long. Feels like a battle to get back to feeling like everyone else around me.

Alyssa’s LifeList:

  1. Meet Pierce The Veil

  2. Stay at Cartoon Network Hotel