The 300 Miles Leading to My Survivorship

In 2017, after reading the book Promise Me by Nancy Brinker, founder of Susan G Komen, I discovered my passion for helping to find a cure for breast cancer. I walked the 7 houses that sat in between my in-laws’ home and mine and asked my mother-in-law, who had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, if I could walk in celebration of her survivorship. Five months later, I walked my first 3-Day in the greater Detroit, Michigan, area in her honor. This experience strengthened my passion. For the next 4 years I was involved in local races and taught makeup and art therapy projects to cancer patients. I founded my in-home bakery, Cookies for the Cure, in 2018. To date I have baked over 25,000 sugar cookies and raised $50,000 for various nonprofits supporting breast cancer research, advocacy, and support.

In February 2021, I was diagnosed with stage 3b infiltrating ductal carcinoma with metastasis to the lymph nodes. My cancer was treated with 16 rounds of chemotherapy, 2 initial breast surgeries, 33 rounds of radiation, and hormone therapy that I am still taking. Upon completion of my treatment in December 2021, I was excited to celebrate my cancer-free status and move into survivorship. But in January 2022 at a routine visit with my oncologist, it was brought to my attention that the redness appearing on my left breast, the cancer side, was not radiation burns but the beginning of an infection. Ultimately, I had emergency surgery to remove my left breast spacer (a temporary implant) leaving me unisided. I went home to heal and work on accepting the realization that survivorship wasn’t quite in the cards for me yet. During this time, I continued to struggle with overwhelming body pain and ongoing symptoms of discomfort and sickness. Two months later, after learning about breast implant illness, I voluntarily had my right breast spacer and capsule removed, clearing my body of any foreign objects. For the next 18 months, I would work on creating a new plan for my breast reconstruction and preparing myself for that journey.

The only safe option for me to have breasts at this point was referred to as a Diep flap reconstruction, an 8- to 12-hour surgery during which plastic surgeons harvest skin, blood arteries, and fat from the patient’s belly and transfer it to the chest to create new breasts. This would require a 6- to 8-week recovery. This was a hurdle I felt compelled to complete to feel like the survivor I wanted to be in my cancer journey. I wanted to walk into this surgery strong and completely confident in my decision to have the surgery, heal completely, and love the new vessel my soul resides in—this earthly body that would be covered in scars and reminders that it had been through so many battles.

What better way to grow stronger than to spend the year walking? I committed to walking in the Susan G Komen 3-Day Series. The 2023 series included 5 cities across the United States. It would require me to raise at least $11,500 for the cause and train to walk 60 miles 5 times! I began training in January for the first event in August. My sore, tired body slowly grew stronger, and my walks grew longer. I set my fundraising goal at $25,000, aiming at $5,000 per walk. I baked cookies, sent letters to family and friends, and hosted game parties, a garage sale, and a wine bottling party.

My journey across the country began in Boston. I was reunited with many friends from prior walks and introduced to many people who would be there along my journey in this series. I knew from the moment I stepped into the hotel this was going to be a walk to remember. Boston, Denver, Chicago, and Dallas became filled with memories of reassurance that I was in fact walking the right path. I met women who could share experiences with me about the surgery I was going to have. I shared my fundraising ideas and my love for Susan G Komen and their commitment to the fight to end breast cancer. I hugged other flatties. I shared my experience as a young cancer survivor, being diagnosed under the age of 30. I grew closer to my pink bubble family and met new pink sisters I will forever hold close to my heart. And of course I walked.

Collectively I walked 120 hours, took 600,000 steps, ate 15 bagged lunches, endured way too many porta-potty pit stops, and covered 300 miles. Flying into San Diego, 13 days prior to my scheduled Diep flap surgery, I felt like a kid heading to Disney World. The pink decorations and hugs of reunited walkers filled my soul. I regularly found myself tearing up (and crying in the privacy of my pink tent). I could feel the healing happening. I could feel the broken pieces of my soul, my faith, my physical being, mending back together. San Diego is the most beautiful 3-Day walk city to walk around, and it’s a walk that comes with the best community support. You don’t turn a corner without someone yelling, “You got this,” “Looking good,” and my least favorite, “You’re almost there.” (LOL) I completed those miles somewhat knowing that crossing the finish line here was sending me home to finally begin crossing the finish line of my breast cancer journey. I knew the 300 long miles I had walked in the past 87 days had led me to the beginning of survivorship.

On November 29, 2023, a 10-hour surgery was performed to create my new chest. I felt the love and support of every person I met throughout the series as I began and recovered from the surgery. The surgery was the beginning of the end.

I continue to feel inspired to walk and share my journey. Thank you for allowing me time and space in your life today, for my story. I hope my experience inspires you to fulfill the passions in your life. And please go get your mammogram.