At 28 years old, the furthest thing from my mind was cancer. I was young, happy and healthy; I was a wife and a new mom. But that fall, everything changed.

I had a begun feeling a pain under my right arm and decided I needed to get it checked out. I made an appointment with my doctor, who then suggested I have a mammogram done. Following the exam, a spot was actually found on my left side and soon after I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Hearing those words was so shocking and so scary. I was filled with so many different emotions, but when the idea of not being able to watch my daughter and family grow came to mind, I quickly put things into perspective. I knew what I had to do; I had to fight this.

There was never a doubt that I would choose Woman’s Hospital for my cancer care. I went into treatment with a lot of questions and as optimistic as possible. The doctors helped me find the answers I needed and to understand my treatment options. Knowing that I wanted to live the longest and healthiest life possible, I opted for the double mastectomy.

I completely trusted my doctor. He and his team walked me through one of the scariest times in my life and I couldn’t be more thankful to have them by my side. They were there for me and my family the entire time. They may have started as medical professionals, but they have become honorary members of my family. To this day, I am so grateful for what my doctor has done for me and for what Woman’s Hospital has done for me.

For more information about Woman’s breast cancer care, click here. For information about cancer survivorship & support, click here.