Patient Stories

Ronda M. Walker struggled to maintain a sense of normalcy as she fought breast cancer. This experience taught her to live in the moment and reminded her that life is short, and tomorrow is not promised.

Alyssa Dickey searched for 2 years for the source of her recurrent illnesses before she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Now, she tries to find balance in her life and live in the present, knowing that the cancer will likely return.

Cancer survivor Tricia Tennesen recounts her spirit-lifting experience with a group of survivors on a nature retreat that involved fly-fishing, which offered her a “path to spirituality without doctrine or dogma.”

Julie Silver ran into many “bumps in the road” after she was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer. Despite many difficulties along the way, today her life is filled with gratitude and appreciation.

When 24-year-old Mia Brister was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, it was as if her whole world had shattered. She had to learn to be kind with herself to put her life together again.

2019 Hero of Hope Patient Award winner Kirstin Arbon speaks about her experience of being treated for cancer while pregnant, and offers advice to survivors and their loved ones.

After getting tested for genetic abnormalities, Brandi Bryant learned she had the ALK genetic mutation, which increases the risk for lung cancer. This information resulted in important changes in her treatment and led her to become an advocate for genetic testing, especially among minority communities.