March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and this cause is deeply personal to me: my sister Dana was diagnosed last year.

About a year and a half ago, she started noticing changes in her bowel routine. Like many of us would, she assumed it was just stress and tried to ignore it. But when things didn’t improve, she went to a GI doctor, who recommended a colonoscopy at just 41, earlier than the typical recommended age of 45.

After the procedure, the doctor explained he found a mass that appeared malignant. Then, the night before her first day back teaching middle school ELA in the Bronx, she got the call confirming it was colorectal cancer and that it had spread to her lymph nodes.

And yet… she still got up the next morning and went to work.

That’s my sister: strong, resilient, unstoppable. She later told me, “All I really heard the doctor say was that it was treatable and I held onto that.”

She continued working through chemotherapy until her body simply couldn’t anymore, eventually taking a leave of absence. I want to give a heartfelt thank you to her colleagues at MS 45, who have been showing her incredible support during this time.

I was able to be with her through parts of her treatment, infusions, chemo pills and all the ups and downs. It was heartbreaking to see how much it took out of her. This is someone who competed in Strongman and CrossFit competitions, who worked out every day on her lunch break and who, as a single mom, pours everything she has into raising her son, Alexander. At her weakest, she struggled to get out of bed, to walk, to eat.

But she never gave up.

The chemo worked and it shrank the mass. This March 2026, she reached a major milestone: colon resection surgery. Since then, she’s been feeling better, slowly regaining her strength. Her doctor is optimistic that the surgery was a success and that all visible cancer has been removed.

I’m sharing her story (with her permission) to remind you to listen to your body and prioritize your health. Don’t ignore changes. Advocate for yourself. Early detection matters.

But I’m also sharing this because she needs support. While this is an incredible step forward, the journey isn’t over.

She has given so much of herself, to her students, her son and everyone around her. Right now, she deserves the space to rest, heal and focus entirely on getting better. As she moves forward, there will still be ongoing health and wellness needs.

If you’re able, please consider helping in any way you can. And if not, sharing this would mean just as much.

Thank you for your kindness, support and for helping us spread awareness it means the world.