My journey began in 2021. I was 39 years old, a wife, a mom, a friend, and just living a beautiful ordinary life despite the uncertainty of Covid. I was riding my bike to pick up my son from school when I got the call from my doctor that I was diagnosed with a rare cervical cancer. In my doctor's defense, she didn't tell me right then but said, "call me over video as soon as you get back home". I knew my world was about to change. Soon, my world became filled with surgery, chemotherapy, brachytherapy, scans, waiting and uncertainty.

In this time of uncertainty, something else happened, and I started finding people. I found an online community of women who understood the things that are difficult to explain to someone who hasn't lived it. These women were funny, fierce, and caring.

My family, friends, and community also showed up and surrounded us in ways I'll never forget. They brought meals, took me on walks, sent messages and cards, set intentions and prayed, made us laugh, and helped carry our family when I didn't have the energy to carry everything myself.

After my final chemotherapy treatment, I wrote "We are not defined by specific things we go through." Cancer changed my life, but it didn't get to define it. It gave me purpose and a chance to see things from a different perspective. I'm committed to making sure other women facing Small and Large Cell Neuroendocrine cervical cancer can find the same connection, support, and hope that I did.