Human Hero

I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Stage 2 Breast Cancer in April 2025 and underwent 20 weeks of chemotherapy from May to October. After a partial mastectomy on November 6, I started 20 rounds of radiation treatments. Then 4 immunotherapy treatments and the next step is reconstructive surgery.  I believe that everything happens for a reason.

I thought 2024 was the worst year of my life. My Husband died suddenly in June, and while driving home from visiting family in IL, I totaled his truck. Two days later, my dad passed away after a long illness just two days before Christmas. If I hadn’t been in that accident, I would have been home in WI and not by his side in the hospital when he passed.

2025 must be better, right? I was still grieving in April when I heard the diagnosis.  

It was like a nightmare, I was in a whirlwind and my head was spinning. I couldn’t understand what the doctors were telling me. A huge shout out to my wonderful sister for being there for the consults, catheter surgery, asking all the questions, and taking notes.

 Now the scary part … telling people, saying it out loud. My family was shocked but so loving and supportive. I told my immediate group of work colleagues by reading them the text I sent to my cousins. All were supportive, some even cried. They surprised me with a chemo survival bag of things I didn’t even know I needed. 

This is where my teenage son really steps up. He went back to his summer job part-time so that he could drive me to every chemo appointment. He took care of the house, the dogs, and me.

I had 20 weeks of chemo from May (2 days before my son’s 20^th birthday) all the way until October 9^th – the day I rang the bell. I was nervous and excited at the same time. All the nurses gathered around, and my son took a video (he is my biggest cheerleader). I felt like Rocky winning the big fight as I walked out of the treatment room!

On November 6, I had a partial mastectomy surgery which happened to be two days after my husband’s birthday. Are you catching on to all of the “2’s” yet?

The following month, I went through 20 radiation treatments, 5 days a week – through Christmas and New Years. Once again, I rang the bell and once again all the nurses gathered to cheer me on. I cried. 

As I was writing this, I noticed that the number two appears a lot, so I looked up what that meant. Here is what I found: “Often called an ‘angel number,’ 2 is considered a signal to stop worrying and trust that things are working out as they should.”  

I don’t know why these things happened to me, but this confirms my belief that everything happens for a reason. I know now that I want to live my life to the fullest.

I am a mother. I am a warrior!