If you're reading this, you may or may not know Abby Rockmaker Match personally, but somehow her magic has found its way to your phone or computer screen.  

Abby's life changed on August 5th, 2020 when she received the call that the painful lump on the left side of her breast into her armpit was her biggest fear...cancer.  

Triple Negative Breast Cancer is a type of breast cancer that tests negative for all three hormonal markers, and while it can respond well to the treatments, it is known to be very aggressive.  
When a person is young with this diagnosis, it is standard of care to do genetic testing, and weeks later Abby found out she was positive for the BRCA-1 mutation.  60-80% of those with this mutation will express breast or ovarian cancer in their lifetime.  This has been so incredibly devastating for Abby, her family, and all of those who love her. 

While the chemo, surgery, and radiation give Abby a promising prognosis (and if you have followed her chemo journey, you will see she kicked chemo's rotten sour bum through the roof with grace, determination, and bottomless strength), Abby became interested in an additional avenue for treatment through functional medicine. 
Functional medicine looks at the entire patient and identifies the root causes of illness through nutrition, stress, toxins, allergens, genetics, and microbiome. Because of the BRCA-1 mutation, this type of treatment provides more insight into what may have triggered the expression of the mutation, and give Abby more control to prevent the mutation from causing reoccurrence in the future.

Through friends and word of mouth locally, Abby found Dr. Jennifer Simmons, founder of RealHealth MD and a functional medicine doctor.  Dr. Simmons or Dr. Jenn has almost 20 years of breast disease and surgery experience and is passionate about the idea of pursuing health rather than treating an illness.  Abby and Dr. Jenn immediately connected, and while it not only gave Abby another area of health and wellness to focus on, it gave her mountains of hope for continued health after completing her treatments.  This isn't a treatment only while Abby fights breast cancer, this is a treatment in promoting health the rest of her life.

Elevated and inspired with hope, Abby joined one of Dr. Jenn's group workshops with other women with breast cancer and forming an even deeper connection to the health aspects, Abby hired Dr. Jenn to work with her individually on a health program and maintenance plan post-chemo, surgery, and radiation.  Abby is now working with Dr. Jenn and committed to 12 months of care with a 7-part health plan, doctor visits, health coaching, regular health plan updates, advanced biomarker testing, unlimited messaging, and access to an online community. Unfortunately, this is out of network with insurance and will be paid for out of pocket.


In a horrific year of having a devastating cancer diagnosis in the middle of a pandemic, Abby has sauntered gracefully through every obstacle with no other attitude besides "I will beat this," and I can't help but think of all the incredible ways Abby has supported not only her family but every single individual in her life.  If you know Abby, you love her.  She is a beam of light and joy, and a precious gem to us all.

The ask...in the worst year many of us all have had to date, during the holiday season of opening our hearts and spreading love and kindness, how special would it be to pay for Abby's medical care with Dr. Jenn? As Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of light, maybe we can help to bring a more brilliant source of light to her in a year of utter darkness. What a way to send her into 2021 with her (soon to be fuzzy) head lifted a little higher knowing she has one less medical bill to pay? 

Abby did not ask for this fundraiser, and if you know her well you know she doesn't ask for anything or much at all.  Let's wrap her even tighter in love and support! 

Please consider donating to and sharing this fundraiser for our girl Abby Match! Cancer really doesn't know who it's messin' with! cancer met A MATCH!

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