My name is Michelle and I am 38 years old. I lost my mother to cancer (mesothelioma – caused by asbestos exposure) on August 16, 1998, 2 days after my 25th birthday, when she was just 50 years old. Then, on August 26, 2011, two weeks after my 38th birthday, …
Read More »Kathie’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Polycystic Kidney Disease aka PKD)
My name is Kathie, and I am 57-years-old. I am a mother, a grandmother, a daughter, a sister, and an aunt. I am also living with an incurable disease called autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). When I was 49 I was blindsided by the diagnosis. This is what I have …
Read More »Jennifer’s Story (Endometriosis, Cervical Cancer, Leukemia)
Hello, my name is Jennifer Todd, I am 32-years-old and the mother of two wonderful children; a boy who is 9 and a girl who is 12. When I was 19, I was diagnosed with endometriosis. It took me a long time to conceive my daughter, and endometriosis was the reason why. …
Read More »Jennifer’s Story (Breast Cancer)
I turned 41 in November of 2011. Like a responsible woman, I had my first “baseline” mammogram and a yearly physical in January. A week later, I got a letter in the mail, asking me to come back for a closer look at a “probably benign” finding. My wise inner …
Read More »Kristen’s Story (Rheumatoid Arthritis, Endometriosis, Narcolepsy)
I am 28 years old, and to the world, I look perfectly healthy. Except for some very scary scars, you would never know how much my body has endured. At 16, I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, after the doctors first told me I had lupus. Not long after, I …
Read More »Christie’s Story (Breast Cancer)
My story is nothing special. I was diagnosed with stage 3 HER2+ breast cancer 1 day before my 34th birthday. I spent my birthday at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo NY. I was scared as hell. I had a feeling it was cancer. I first found a lump 1 …
Read More »Cecelia’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Lupus)
I was diagnosed with Lupus in 1995, after several years of pain and swelling in my joints. I had seen many doctors, and was told by some that it was all in my head. When I was finally diagnosed, the disease had already started to flare and I immediately had …
Read More »Misty’s Story (Chronic Pain)
I’ve never had the opportunity to share my situation with others that are going through a similar battle. I feel very privileged to do so. I’m 32 and have fought chronic pain for several years now. My pain is worst in my spine, hips, and legs. I also have numbness/tingling in …
Read More »Susan and Her Mom’s Story (Breast Cancer)
As Mother’s Day approaches, I feel it is only appropriate to share my story. Everyone thinks their mother is their hero, but mine TRULY is. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2001, at the age of 29 . I just so happened to be going through a divorce at …
Read More »Rebecca’s Story (Breast Cancer)
To commemorate reaching the 5 year cancer free milestone (woohoo!!) I thought I’d chronicle my journey as a way to thank those that were beside me every step of the way (couldn’t have done it without you), to inspire those that are fighting this battle right now, and to honor …
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