My name is Mellissa Israel. I found out I had cancer at the age of sixteen. I was diagnosed with an aggressive non soft tissue sarcoma tumor in my thigh on September 3, 2009. I found a lump on my leg one day after color guard/band practice. We went to …
Read More »Yearly Archives: 2013
Melanie’s Story (Breast Cancer)
On July 6, 2012, I was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer in an emergency room at 2:30 a.m. I’ve never sat so still in order to listen to what was about to happen. Throughout almost a year the care and complications had to be weighted out. But the love …
Read More »Lorra’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Congenital Heart Defects)
I’ve been fighting like a girl since birth due to congenital heart defects. I want to share my story to hopefully encourage and inspire others. I was born in October of 1979. I was deemed healthy and sent home from the hospital. When I was only five days old, my …
Read More »Kathleen’s Story (Endometriosis)
I fight like a girl every day of my life. First, let me thank all my family, friends, and God, who fight this trying battle with me everyday. I would also like to thank those special endo sisters that I have met online and through support groups. My heart is …
Read More »Norma’s Story (Endometriosis)
It has been 14 years! 14 years of paralyzing agony! I guess you could say that my battle with endo began long before 1999 though. My mother was an endometriosis stage 4 survivor. She would notice those little indications and suspected that I was headed towards the same fate throughout my …
Read More »Charlie’s Story (Endometriosis)
Okay, so here it goes.. This will be a long one so get comfy! Here is a bit of background on my family medical history- My mom was diagnosed with precancerous cervical cells at about the age of 30. Previous to that, her periods were bad and painful and showed …
Read More »Brandy’s Story (Cervical Cancer)
I started receiving pap smears in 1997 at the age of 14 due to a diagnosis of endometriosis and recurring ovarian cysts. I never had any issues with them up until 2008, however, two years after the birth of my oldest daughter (by the way I was told due to …
Read More »Erika’s Story (Endometriosis)
My name is Erika and I just turned 40! I am so lucky to be alive. I am also lucky to be able to be a wife and a mother to two amazing children! Thankfully I had wonderful help from my in-laws during my difficult time. In 2009 I had …
Read More »Melissa’s Story (Gastroparesis, Colonic Inertia)
I have gastroparesis and colonic inertia. I have been battling motility problems since I was 15 years old. My muscles and nerves in my colon do not operate normally, the same with my stomach. My colon was worse. I was on multiple laxatives with no relief. I recently underwent the …
Read More »Donna’s Story (Esophageal Cancer)
I have suffered from acid reflux for many years. The doctor treated it with ‘Prevacid,’ ‘Nexium,’ etc. Last October I went to my gastroenterologist for a routine visit. He scheduled an EGD. I was told the next day that I had esophageal cancer. I was sent immediately to UAB at …
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