Inspirational Stories

I am 28 years old and was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) when I was 27. I am a mother of two (a 5-year-old boy and a 7-year-old daughter). I am a licensed esthetician in Chicago and have run my own beauty business for six years.

In May 2023, I was experiencing extreme discomfort in my left armpit/breast area which eventually became so severe that I could barely catch my breath when laying down. The physician I saw then wrote me a referral for an ultrasound, and a biopsy followed soon after. In June 2023, at the peak of my mom/business owner's mid-20-year-old life, I was diagnosed with NHL. The lymph node in my left armpit is what flagged the process.

My family and I had never experienced cancer firsthand, therefore we were all in utter disbelief. In July 2023, we got the ball rolling, and I met my wonderful oncologist who I like to think saved my life. The first PET scan was done. It was declared stage 4. The cancer activity was in my lymphatic system and had now spread to my spleen and liver as well. Everything happened so fast, and my health began to decline by the day. I felt sick for a very long time, but I was young and thought I was invincible to sickness because of my age and “healthy” lifestyle.

I underwent chemotherapy for six long excruciating months. My fight-or-flight instincts kicked into overdrive for my children. Every two weeks on Thursday, I underwent another chemo treatment, a total of 12 sessions. In December 2023, I completed my last round and declared myself to be cancer-free.

Twelve LONG weeks later, we did the final PET scan, and it showed slight activity in my pelvic area. I felt DEFEATED and as if my heart had been ripped out of my chest. I thought, “All of that for nothing.”
One week later, after I had accepted my fate and that I still had work to do to be in remission, I got a phone call from my doctor saying my scan was misinterpreted, and I AM CANCER-FREE!! We repeated another scan 12 weeks later to confirm. And yes, finally I was actually free ― health-wise, spiritually, and mentally.

My journey with blood cancer was ANYTHING but predictable. I always took pride in being in control of everything I faced in life, but cancer is something I could’ve never prepared for. My support system was quite literally an army of people. I had my amazing mother as my nurse through each and every session. She NEVER missed a chemo and never cried in front of me. She was my hero through it all. I let my real emotions show around her because I felt I needed to put on a front in front of the world. My world was crumbling, and she held onto all the pieces and put them back together. My family and friends showed support in every way imaginable. My community came together and bought my children food and toys for the holidays. My oncology team encouraged me that there was indeed light at the end of the tunnel, and I would be a SURVIVOR!

Although I don’t love what I went through, I love sharing my story. As long as my testimony can help others through the dark times or even encourage a person to take their health seriously, then it is all worth it.