A Warrior's Story - Finding Destiny After Breast Cancer Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Kelley was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer after being told that she was "too young" after fighting to be heard at age 22. She endured challenging treatment protocol, a high risk pregnancy during treatment and then the loss of both her sister and her mother to cancer. Despite these challenges, Kelley will share how she made it through with her faith and determination. The air date for this episode, December 21 is Kelley's birthday so wishing Kelley a very happy day! As we pre-recorded this episode, Kelley wanted to add some additional information: "Season's Greetings Breast Friends Listeners, I am grateful to be given the opportunity to elaborate on a few topics I believe may have been unclear. First & foremost, when I mentioned my mother being gay it was not to be interpreted as anything less than factual. As a child of the 70s, we were not allowed to speak the word let alone tell our friends. Along with our unique upbringing, it was yet another way for these new kids in town to feel different, isolated from their peers. My mom had two girls who supported her without judgement, loved her no matter what. Not long after I awoke from my 18 day comma, I made-up a joke I intended to share while on the air: Q. Why do you think I had to have a mastectomy A. Because a lumpectomy just didn't cut it Lastly, I lost my train of thought when talking about one of many reasons why it was such a miracle to get pregnant when I did. I was hospitalized for a total of 25 days. Thankfully, I do not remember 18 of them. LOL!! I was so excited to get released on that Friday evening only to learn that I had to resume Chemotherapy on Monday morning. UGH!!! That very morning (28 days without Chemo) right before I was to be "hooked up", I started feeling a weird. I asked to used the ladies room and viola there it was...I was bleeding vaginally. I was menstruating. Now ladies, we know our monthly cycles can be delayed if we get a cold. Imagine having months of weekly, aggressive Chemo, enduring a 2.5 week comma, fever of 106.5 and somehow on day 28 (my usual), my body somehow thinks it's time to resume normalcy. Not likely. Only God. Turns out, Destynie, was born in the city of Destiny aka Tacoma. We lived in Bremerton at the time. As long as their is breath in me, I will not quit my plight to change the minds of physicians who think along the "you're too young" spectrum. My hope (and dream) is to have turned what was an incredibly challenging experience into one of encouragement, of hope, and of course, how God has created every person to have their own individual journey. Or shall I say, destiny? I feel incredibly blessed to be here at 51, providing a into the glimpse of my breast cancer experience. Without God's grace & mercy I wouldn't be here today. Thank you for welcoming me as a guest and to Mrs. Beck for having me. Love + Light, Kelley