A breast cancer diagnosis was the catalyst that finally brought this idea to life.

This is the first step in my cancer chapter. Never did I think I would be faced with cancer in my 40th year of life. At a time when people are planning the trips, the parties, the celebrations of a milestone birthday. Not planning surgeries, or treatment plans, or wondering how much longer do we really have left in this life?

On May 19th 2025, my life was altered with the news of a breast cancer diagnosis. And the world around me shook. It shook me inside and out. And the days following were filled with doctor’s appointments, and blood tests, and MRIs. And as I finally sit down to write about it for the first time, I want to say how so very complicated, messy, and multi-layered it is to hear what’s happening to you. That the range of emotions fluctuate to both extremes in every given day. From “I’ll be strong and I’ll get through it” to agonizing anger and fear. And what it ignited in me, is that I want to be unapologetically loud about this. We navigate a social society where we announce child birth, and vacations, and new homes, and all the beautiful things. And we should share and celebrate all of those things. But on the contrary, we aren’t talking about the things that make us hurt inside. It’s too scary, it’s too vulnerable. Maybe we think it makes us feel less than? And so sometimes we suffer alone in silence. What I’ve witnessed in the last three weeks is that we are never alone. We all have a tribe around us, of people who love and support, and would do anything to make you really feel their love for you.

I experienced a lot of loss at a formative time in my life, in my teenage years my heart broke over and over again as cancer and suicide and tragic accidents took my family members away. And I’ve always thought someday I’d be an advocate for speaking out about the hard things. About feeling all the feelings, and telling someone about it. Because we all have someone who will listen. And in most cases we have many someones. People who are just waiting for the opportunity to care for you. So I guess that day is today and many days following, I’ll keep talking about it. I hope this message reaches you, and lights something else in you to be unapologetic for speaking up about what you’re going through, and even more so about who you are and what your purpose is in this complicated, messy, multi-layered, and beautiful life. 

xo, Danielle