They say some of the scariest words a person can hear are, “You have cancer.” 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Even if those words have never been spoken directly to you, most of us have felt the weight of them through someone we love. A parent. A friend. A sister. A coworker. Someone who was living life one day and facing appointments, treatments, fear, and hard decisions the next. Cancer has a way of changing the room.

My first blog shared a small part of my life, focusing on strength, determination, and encouragement. Growing up, my life did not unfold the way I expected. From birth, I faced struggles, and no one knew what my future would look like. School was especially difficult. I often felt I was not smart enough or as beautiful as my light-skinned family members, and being teased by my siblings deepened those feelings. In high school and college, I turned to sports and discovered my s

Before I was old enough to speak for myself, someone had already placed a limitation on my life. I entered this world two months early, weighing only three pounds and seven ounces. I was so tiny that my grandfather said he could fit me inside a dresser drawer. My fragile little body reminded my family of a wet bird, so they gave me the nickname “Bird.” It was a loving nickname, but it also reflected just how vulnerable I was. My twin sister and I were born into a single-paren