Believe…

in faith & God’s blessings

Shawna Bramel

In April 2021, at the age of 35, I found a lump in my breast after I finished breastfeeding my oneyear- old daughter. With no family history and at my age, I never imagined I would later be told, “You have cancer,” stage II Triple Negative Breast Cancer. In a split second, my world was instantly changed forever.

As a Medical Social Worker, I was the one helping others with cancer, and now I was the patient. I underwent 16 rounds of aggressive chemo, a lumpectomy with lymph node removal, and six weeks of radiation. I battled anxiety and grief (losing my hair, my old self, my breasts, my roles), but I gained so much (my outlook on life, my blessings, and what’s really important in life). Thankfully I beat it with the support of God, friends/family, and amazing community support.

My motto was “one more step to victory,” and now each day is a victory. I’m so grateful for community agencies supporting those with cancer, who truly understand what it’s like to walk in my shoes. Always keep your faith, be kind, count your blessings, and never take a day for granted.