Dallas Together in Teal

Welcome to my 2024 Together in TEAL® Page!

Hi! Thank you for checking out my page.. I am now a 2 year survivor and unfortunately I’ll never forget this hard time in my life. BUT GOD… has brought me to the other side of this! I am here to spread awareness and support to the 22,000+ women that will be diagnosed this year.. and to the families and friends that will watch them go through this Hell. 

I’ll never forget that day.... I was tutoring for Algebra after school and trying so hard to ignore the pain I had in my abdominal/pelvic area. It started the day of The Cowtown Marathon (only ran 1/2 🤗). This pain went on and off for a couple months.  STAAR test was approaching 🙄 and I really was committed to helping my students… but the pain was so intense and I had that stupid gut feeling to just go “in”. So I drive myself from South Hills HS to the ER and did alllll the things for them to basically tell me.. something’s wrong go follow up with your OBGYN…

Fast forward… Doctor says I just need a hysterectomy… no biggie. The pain kinda goes away… I even have a “Goodbye Uterus Party” with all my friends! 🤣 It took 3 weeks to get results back… I had already put it in the back of my mind. 

Then come D day (diagnosis day)… June 15, 2022. You have Ovarian Cancer. Then your world changes… They told me I will need to undergo another surgery and would know more about how much it had spread and how much CHEMO I would need.  The summer and fall of 2022 is pretty blurry... I stayed in bed most of the time and slipped into a dark place.  Thankfully, I was able to lean on some great friends, my supportive family, and of course my FAITH.  

Here's the things about going through a life threatening event... it puts ALOT of things into perspective.  It makes you think about what is really important in life and what isn't.  It makes you question why we are so hard on ourselves about silly things like - how clean or perfect the house is, how many of my students will pass the STAAR test,  not taking a day off for my mental health or my son's birthday or my childhood best friends wedding - its all an illusion.  LIFE is precious and we are all on the clock so don't waste it.  WORRYING - this was something that I could not get a hold on.  The "what ifs" and googling the side effects of treatment and cancer returning.  I finally figure out this is not in my control.  "Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the godly be shaken." Psalms 55.  The word "CAST" does not mean to slowly hand over... it mean throw them away and GOD will catch them.  He's got you.  I live life a little differently - of course I still have rough days and deal with some stupid side effects, but I know that no matter what life throws at me - I will rise up.  

My sweet dog Phoenix passed away a few months ago and while this was tremendously sad for me it reminded me that a "Phoenix" does exactly that - RISES UP from the ashes and is STRONGER than ever.

Thank thank you thank you for taking time to read allll this 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵

I am excited to share that I have registered for National Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s 2024 Together in TEAL® event because I am dedicated to raising awareness and funds in support of the ovarian cancer community. My efforts will help improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities who have been impacted by ovarian cancer - but this work cannot be done alone. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today in support of my fundraising goals. 

Funds raised for the NOCC support national programs and local community initiatives to heighten awareness of the subtle signs, symptoms, and risks of ovarian cancer, provide quality-of-life and educational resources to survivors and caregivers throughout their journey, and advocate for the advancement of life-saving ovarian cancer research.

Join me by donating today, and bring us one step closer to a future where no one ever loses their life to ovarian cancer.