Last year, I learned the Aurora Borealis was going to be the strongest it had been in years, and I decided to make Iceland my next trip. I mentioned it to a few friends, and before I knew it, a small group of us had planned to go in late February.

But on the morning of February 5th, just three weeks before the trip, everything changed. I woke up around 5 AM with excruciating pain in my right calf. I could barely walk and it took all my strength just to make it to the restroom. I called my sister, Annette, who works in the medical field. She immediately suspected a blood clot and told me to call 911. Of course, in my stubbornness, I was convinced she was wrong, so I went back to sleep.

When I woke again a few hours later, the pain hadn’t let up, and I finally gave in and called one of my besties, Dama. She rushed over, and together we decided to call 911. Within minutes, a team of firefighters and EMTs were in my condo. It was overwhelming and a little embarrassing—I wasn’t prepared for visitors—but I was also deeply relieved. They carried me down the stairs and onto a gurney, and thank God they did, because Dama could never have gotten me to the hospital on her own.

At the hospital, the doctors told me something that stopped me in my tracks: “We’re so glad you came in.” They explained that I had three blood clots (pulmonary embolisms), I was missing nearly half my blood, and I was severely anemic. My sister had been right. The doctors kept reminding me how serious this was and how grateful they were that I came in when I did. Surgery was considered, but it was too risky, so they treated me with medication instead, and thankfully, it worked.

Over the next weeks, I met with specialists to figure out what had caused this. My hematologist told me the clot in my lung was so large that it was a miracle I had survived. She also told me how fortunate it was that the clots appeared when they did—if I had boarded that plane to Iceland, it could have been catastrophic. Needless to say, I never made it to Iceland, and my bestie and her husband (Kelly and John Paul) chose to stay behind with me, for which I’ll be forever grateful.

Not long after, new symptoms began. I couldn’t walk or stand for more than a few minutes at a time, and the pain in my pelvis and lower back were unbearable. I moved in with Kelly and John Paul for support. On top of everything, I had to begin blood transfusions every two to three weeks. For perspective, a healthy woman’s hemoglobin is about 12. Mine dropped as low as 4.3. I went from never needing the hospital to living in and out of it every other week.

Then, on March 27th, I was diagnosed with Endometriosis Adenocarcinoma. By May 2nd, it was confirmed to be Stage IV uterine cancer. My first round of chemotherapy began on May 9th. My doctors were concerned that I had cancer in my lungs as well so performed a biopsy, but by God’s grace, it came back benign. My pain has lessened significantly, I can do much more now, and I’m responding well to treatment. Eventually, I will need a hysterectomy.

These past six months have been nothing short of life-changing. Between CT scans, MRIs, EKGs, blood transfusions, chemo, and countless other tests, I’ve learned so much about my body, but I’ve also experienced an unshakable peace. God has been with me through it all. I cannot say enough about the army of people who have surrounded me with love, care, and support.

To all of you who have prayed, helped, or just checked in—thank you from the bottom of my heart. To my cousins, Yvette and Craig—you have been my anchors, my champions, and I will never be able to repay what you have done for me.

This journey is far from over, and I promise to keep sharing updates along the way. For those who are just now hearing this news, please know it wasn’t because I didn’t want to share—it’s simply been overwhelming. I’m finally ready to open up and let you walk this path with me.

Everything is different now. Since my cancer diagnosis, my life has been turned upside down in ways I never imagined. The future that once felt so bright and full of possibility can sometimes feel uncertain, but I hold on to hope. Not long ago, my days were filled with dinners, outings, and vacations, and now my calendar looks more like doctor appointments and hospital visits. The physical exhaustion and side effects are real, but even heavier at times is the emotional weight. Still, through it all, I’ve found peace and strength in God’s presence, and I know brighter days are ahead.