Back in November 2023, I discovered a lump in my neck right above my collar bone. I played it off that maybe I was just sick and didn’t seek care until December 2023 for a suspected ear infection. I went to the ER in December to have my ears checked out and thought I would go on my merry way with some antibiotics. Triage checked my ears and that’s when I first heard the word of lymphoma. My heart sank but I knew I needed to find answers. Since December I’ve been poked, scanned, and everything in between to understand why my body decided to have a mind of its own. 6.5 months later I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

I work two fairly stressful jobs as a SPED paraeducator and a senior youth advocate at a teen homeless shelter. Both bringing me so much joy and fulfillment, but it got to a point where all my physical pain and the stress of a diagnosis felt like I wasn’t giving my positions the grace they needed. I am currently in the process of applying for leave when the school year starts up again to help maintain my daily expenses.

This season of life feels…messy. Incorrect. Unpredictable. Emotional. Vulnerable. Overwhelming. Stressful. But also very heartwarming, rejuvenating, and even a little inspiring.

I never thought I’d be going through a cancer healing journey, but we’re doing the dang thing and I’m looking forward to what it teaches me with my relationship with my body along the way ✨

Any funds donated will go towards an egg retrieval procedure, chemotherapy, and various other medical expenses. It would mean the world for any donations as it would alleviate some of the material stresses that comes with cancer