The Hopeful Warrior

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The Hopeful Warrior

Unapologetically optimistic. Wife. Mother. Survivor. Beating cancer one day at a time.

04/06/2023

Beautiful day to celebrate being a cancer survivor 🎉

What a difference 5 years makes!

I first walked in 2018 while I was finishing up chemo. I remember how hot and uncomfortable I was—still rocking my wig, determined to walk the entire time but unsure if my body could handle walking over three miles. But I did it!

Now five years later, I am lucky enough to have my whole family walk together to celebrate.

Days like today wouldn’t be possible without
the love and support of my family and friends, especially my husband, Eric, who was my rock throughout my treatment and recovery.

I’m so grateful for all the incredible doctors and nurses at Lurie Cancer Center that helped care for me during my toughest days.

Today was a vivid reminder no one fights alone.

No matter what you’re facing, there’s hope that better days are ahead.

Praying for all those fighting 💜

01/05/2023

I’m officially 5 years cancer-free today 🎉

This journey has had its ups and downs, but I am so thankful to still be here, standing strong.

It has been a while since I posted but I couldn’t let today pass without noting the significance.

Five years is a big milestone in cancer treatment.

After 5 years the chance of reoccurrence is very low. Some doctors even consider this “cured.”

While I will continue to have yearly check ups, I finally feel like I can take a deep breath and stop fearing what could happen next.

Thank you to everyone who helped and supported me and my family through some of our toughest days.

I hope anyone struggling right now can find hope in my story.

Your tough days won’t last forever and you will get through this 💜

05/06/2022

Beautiful day to celebrate being a cancer survivor! 💜💚

01/05/2022

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝟰 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.
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It’s hard to believe my journey with cancer began 5 years ago.
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These past few years have been full of many twists and turns but today is one day I will never forget.
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Today was the day I was told there was no evidence of disease.
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I still had four months of chemo left but today was a major turning point in my treatment.
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So much has changed since then but as sure as my hair grew back, I know these past four years have changed me for the better.
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So grateful for another year of life.
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Here’s to the next four years and beyond!
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07/12/2021

Feeling extra thankful for another trip around the sun.
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Just had the most incredible time celebrating my birthday and 10th wedding anniversary in Sedona—one of my favorite places.
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A few years ago, I wondered if my 32nd birthday was going to be my last since I had been diagnosed with lymphoma only a week before.
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Hearing you have cancer is always shocking but getting diagnosed in the middle of the holiday season is another level of devastation.
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If you’ve been following my cancer journey, you know this past decade has been everything but easy for my family.
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By the time I was diagnosed with cancer in late 2017, my family had already endured a slew of health challenges from my daughter’s emergency heart surgery to my husband’s brain surgery.
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I’m not quite such how we made it through all those difficult days.
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But thanks to the support of friends and family who cooked meals, raised funds and lifted us up in prayer—we made it through together.
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I believe those difficult times made us tougher, stronger and love harder.
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I’m grateful we haven’t let those hard times harden our hearts.
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We’ve grown thankful for those hard days because they help us appreciate the good days that come along.
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Now we try not to take the good days for granted and take any reason to celebrate.
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While hiking in Sedona I was reminded of how similar navigating the rocky terrain was to battling cancer.
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Stumbling blocks.
Unseen twists and turns.
Parts that throw you off balance.
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You never know where your journey will take you.
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Cancer may push you to your limits.
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But it also shows you those limits can stretch and change overtime.
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I hope my journey shows you that no matter how much difficulty or uncertainty you are facing, you are wildly capable of overcoming more than you could ever imagine.
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Always remain hopeful and know you are a warrior 💜
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27/09/2021

Now that my scars have healed and my hair has grown back, what’s next?

One of the hardest parts about remission is learning how to bridge the great divide from patient to survivor.

Adjusting to life post-treatment can be just as challenging for our battle-weary bodies and minds.

When treatment ends, we often find ourselves picking up the pieces of our lives we put on hold or were too exhausted to manage on top of staying alive.

Once the cancer left my body, it was time to focus on healing the invisible wounds the cancer left behind.

After my treatment ended, all the emotions and fears I had been suppressing to get to remission seemed to boil over when there was finally space to process everything my body endured.

I wondered, how will I ever trust my body again?

I struggled to remain positive with all the ongoing uncertainty.

Soon the anger, depression, frustration and fear became so loud it was impossible to ignore...

https://www.hopefulwarrior.com/blog/2021/9/27/life-after-cancer-finding-purpose-amp-meaning-in-the-pain

19/09/2021

Yesterday was a beautiful day to shine a light on cancer ✨

To those fighting…
To those searching for cures…
To those we’ve lost…
We honor you.

ACS CAN are dedicated to helping increase funding for cancer research and ensuring all Americans have access to cancer care.

This year’s incredible display is made possible by my wonderful neighbor

22/08/2021

Surviving cancer is like hiking a mountain.
Your climb begins the day you’re diagnosed.
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Bodily changes.
Emotional challenges.
Debilitating side effects.
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The journey down can be just as challenging as your climb.
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A series of uphill struggles led you to this point, but there isn’t always a clear-cut path forward.
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Progress isn’t always obvious.
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Sometimes, it’s a series of switchbacks that slowly direct you to where you need to be.
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With the support of family and friends, and knowledgeable doctors, you’ll find strength, courage and surprising beauty along the way.
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You gain far more than you lose.
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You earn a new perspective and foster a deep sense of knowing— you can face and survive— more than you ever imagined.
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Read more: https://www.hopefulwarrior.com/blog/2021/8/22/climbing-beyond-cancer

10/08/2021

Three years ago, today, I rang the bell to mark the end of my cancer treatment.
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Calling myself a cancer survivor still feels surreal.
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Now that my hair has grown back, my chest port is gone, and my scars have healed, part of me wishes to forget cancer was ever part of my journey.
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But I still find myself looking over my shoulder for signs of relapse or new sickness.
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The fear of relapse will always be there, but I’m feeling less defined by cancer with each day that passes.
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Now that cancer touched my life, I can’t imagine my life without this journey and all the incredible people who supported me through it.
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I never thought I’d celebrate cancer, but each year that passes, I find something new to be grateful for.
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Cancer may have brought me to my knees, but it’s also taught me how to rise to the occasion.
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Cancer pushed me to my limits and showed me I’m wildly capable of overcoming more than I ever imagined.
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Cancer often felt like it was stealing my future, but it helped magnify what’s most important in my life.
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Cancer showed me the true meaning of faith, friendship, and the value of showing up for others.
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Cancer changes everything it touches, from your body to your family and your finances.
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But I’m hoping some of those changes are for the better.
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Surviving cancer doesn’t give you rose-colored glasses to see the world, but it helps you get comfortable living in shades of gray.
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Three years later, we still have our bad days and challenges, but thankfully the good far outnumber the bad.
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We’ve grown more intentional, mindful, hopeful, and grateful.
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𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 about what we consume in both our bodies and minds.

𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗳𝘂𝗹 of our thoughts and how we react to things in and outside our control.

𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 that I will continue to heal and remain cancer-free.

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 for all the love and support we received during our journey.
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Three years later, so much has changed.
So much continues to get better.
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To those fighting cancer or loving someone who is, I hope my story encourages you that whatever you’re facing, miracles are always possible, and you are never alone.
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06/06/2021

It’s National Cancer Survivor’s Day!
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Earlier today, I took part in Lurie Cancer Center's 28th Annual Cancer Survivors' Celebration & Walk and 5K and hiked the beautiful West Fork Trail in Sedona, AZ to celebrate 3 years as a lymphoma cancer survivor.
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02/06/2021

Three years after treatment, I’m still trying to figure out where cancer ends and I begin.
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Getting diagnosed with cancer caused me to re-examine every aspect of my health.
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Why did I get cancer?
What can I do to keep it from returning?
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Questions like this keep me digging into my health.
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Cancer permanently altered how I view my body.
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Mostly it’s for the better, but sometimes it’s for worse.
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I’m still trying to find my baseline and the root of my chronic health issues.
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I’m still getting used to the “new” me.
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Knowing my body was in the grips of Stage 3 lymphoma not so long ago makes me immediately fear any new, persistent pain.
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But cancer is slowly teaching me the subtle difference between health and wellness and how when it comes to your body, everything is connected.
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I’ve learned so much about my body, nutrition and health since finishing treatment.
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My health is much better now overall, but I still can’t help but keep looking over my shoulder for signs that this could all change.
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I’ve been dealing with some persistent stomach issues after treatment.
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Thankfully, testing helped rule out many serious complications, but I’ve been in a lot of pain while dealing with ongoing stomach issues that often makes it difficult for me to eat.
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A week ago, I began taking part in a clinical trial for a natural supplement that has been shown to help persistent IBS/gut related issues.
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The typical treatment for my stomach issue is a strong course of antibiotics, so I’m excited to take part in a clinical trial to evaluate more natural options.
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The study lasts for a month. The best part is it’s completely remote. I take two pills, three times a day and complete daily surveys regarding my symptoms. I will have a test at the end to determine how effective the monthly regimen treated my stomach issue.
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While a part of me will always fear cancer, I’ll never stop trusting and being amazed by science and our body’s innate ability to heal.
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Really hoping these pills do the trick!

16/05/2021

Hope and summer are in the air ✨

What a difference a year makes!

I had so much fun exploring the city and beautiful Chicago River with my husband this weekend.

We took an architecture boat cruise, had dinner on the River Walk and go to see a new art exhibit.

Most of my recent trips to the city have been because of treatment or doctor’s visits so this was a nice change.

Chicago is magical in the summertime and it was wonderful to see the city so vibrant again.

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My Story

In November of 2017, exactly a week before my 32nd birthday I found out that I have Hodgkin’s Lymphoma— a cancer of the blood that starts in the lymphatic system.

Thankfully, this type of cancer is very treatable, and even curable in some cases. I am grateful that mine was caught relatively early. I will still need to endure months of chemotherapy, but overall the prognosis is good, so I am very hopeful.

As shocking is this news is, honestly— I haven’t felt right for years. After giving birth to my twins three years ago, I knew something wasn’t right. I saw numerous doctors and specialists. Gave blood samples— you name it and it was checked. Still physicals and labs checked out so, through extremely fatigued and exhausted, I soldiered on. I began to think it was all in my head.

“You’re married with three young children, you work (from home) and take care of twins, of course you’re exhausted. Who wouldn’t be?”