Diagnosis

I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in March 2017 when I went to the ER for a kidney stone. Thankfully the radiologist saw the mass and I had surgery 7 days later. I was concerned I missed something so I  went to my Doctor and asked how I could have known. The Doctor explained symptoms of ovarian cancer and they are very vague! Bloating, feeling full faster, pain in the abdomen, and lower back pain, I thought to myself, this everyday life as a 47yr old woman! There is NO test for ovarian cancer! ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among women, and is the deadliest of gynecologic cancers. I'm a mom to three beautiful daughters, wife to Andy, business woman and a small business owner and this diagnosis rocked my world. Life as I knew it, will never be the same. Once you get the diagnosis everything changes! I wanted to be crowned to spread awareness about ovarian cancer because it’s a silent killer.

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Advice to others

My advice for other woman is to listen to your body, take preventive measures, and educate yourself. The hero’s battle cries for being strong and brave while “fighting” cancer only matter when you think you can’t possibly take another treatment, get out of bed, or look at yourself in the mirror. That’s when I need the courage and strength to fight. The treatment will or won’t work, no one dies because they didn’t fight hard enough. I'm humbled and overwhelmed by all the people around me that have helped each step of the way! “When you go through something traumatic, people show you who they are! I am so lucky to be surrounded by amazing friends and family"

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My crown experience

My experience of being crowned Being crowned is an experience I’ll never forget! I was taken in under each of the artists wings and treated like a queen, a goddess!! It was magical! I couldn’t stop crying tears of joy! There is something intimate and vulnerable about being crowned, you walk in as a sick, bald, cancer patient, I left feeling like I was on top of the world! It was the first time I’d felt beautiful in months… When I look at my pictures I can see they found my light in my eyes, how do you thank someone for such an experience?

 

Where I am today

Right now we are at a wait and see with ovarian cancer. I completed 5 months of chemotherapy. I started on a hormone blocker medication and will likely take that for five years. I have a great medical team at Mercy Health Lack's watching for any changes and ready to react as needed.