The Long Road to Recovery: A Battle with Cancer
Kylie’s story begins like many others: full of hope, dreams, and a life yet to be fully realized. She was a woman in her thirties, with everything to look forward to. But that all changed when the news she never expected came: “You have cancer.” It wasn’t just any type of cancer—it was a diagnosis that no one wants to hear, a diagnosis that would turn her world upside down and test her in ways she never thought possible. Kylie faced a daunting future, one where every day seemed like a fight for her life. Her life, like so many others diagnosed with cancer, suddenly became a series of hospital visits, treatments, and struggles.
It was a journey that began with shock, followed by disbelief, and eventually, the quiet acceptance that she had no choice but to fight. The words “cancer-free” seemed so far away, yet Kylie was determined to make it a reality.
The First Steps: From Diagnosis to Treatment
Kylie’s cancer diagnosis came out of nowhere. One day she was going about her life, and the next, she was sitting across from doctors, listening to a diagnosis that changed everything. The doctors informed her that her type of cancer required immediate action. It would take surgery, rounds of chemotherapy, and radiation to even have a fighting chance at survival.
Her first chemotherapy treatment was one of the hardest things she had ever experienced. The medications made her feel drained, sick, and weak. There were days when she could barely get out of bed. But on the other side of those treatments, something began to shift within Kylie. Despite the fatigue and pain, she found herself more determined than ever. Every treatment was a reminder that she was still alive, still fighting.
The Darkest Days: Facing Fear and Isolation
There were days when the fear would consume Kylie. What if the treatments didn’t work? What if the cancer came back? What if she didn’t survive? These were questions that haunted her every night, but it was the loneliness of those moments that hurt the most. The isolation felt unbearable at times, especially in the sterile hospital room where she was often alone between treatments.
Her friends and family would visit, offering their support and prayers, but the days when no one was there felt longer. In the quiet of those hours, she could hear the beeping of the machines and the sound of her own breathing, and it was during these moments that she found herself battling the most dangerous part of the disease: fear.
But through it all, Kylie didn’t give up. Every day was a step closer to being cancer-free. Every moment was a victory in her battle. And when she could, she shared her journey with others, reminding them that even in the darkest days, there was hope.
Kylie’s family was her rock throughout the entire process. Her partner, her parents, and her friends stood by her through every procedure, every sleepless night, and every tear-filled moment. Kylie knew that she wasn’t fighting this battle alone. They took turns staying with her in the hospital, taking her to appointments, and even cooking meals for her when she was too weak to cook for herself.
In the darkest times, it was their love and support that kept her going. They didn’t just provide her with physical care—they gave her emotional strength, reminding her of who she was and how much she meant to them. Kylie would often say that when she felt weakest, their love made her feel stronger. It was the unconditional support of her family that helped her face each challenge with courage.
The Long-Awaited Day: The News Kylie Had Been Waiting For
Finally, after months of treatments and waiting, the day came when Kylie was called back for one more test—one more scan to see how the treatments had affected her body. She had heard these words before: “We need to run a few more tests,” but this time, it was different. It was the final test. It was the moment that would determine if all of her efforts had paid off.
The anticipation leading up to that day was unbearable. Kylie waited in the hospital room, her heart pounding in her chest. When the doctor walked in, she could see the look in his eyes—he was about to deliver life-changing news.
“I’m happy to report, Kylie, that you’re cancer-free.”
Those words were music to Kylie’s ears. She had spent so many months praying for this moment. The weight of the world seemed to lift off her shoulders, and for the first time in a long while, she felt like she could breathe again. Her fight had been worth it, and she had won. She could finally look ahead to the future with hope.
The Unacknowledged Victory: A Bitter Sweet Moment
But as Kylie sat there, her hands trembling as she held a bouquet of flowers from the nurse, something was missing. Despite hearing the words she had so longed to hear, there was no one around her to celebrate the victory.
Kylie thought back to all the moments in the hospital where her family had celebrated small wins—getting through the hardest treatment, managing the pain, showing up for each appointment. But in that moment, there was no congratulatory call from the doctors or the nurses. No applause. No celebration. She was just left with the bouquet, the test results, and the quiet knowledge that she had done it alone, with so much strength and resilience.
Her journey wasn’t just about the battle with cancer; it was about the internal fight—the fight for self-worth, for recognition, for the validation of all the pain and suffering she had endured. And despite the victory of being cancer-free, Kylie couldn’t help but feel like there was still something missing: the acknowledgment of just how hard she had fought and how far she had come.
Choosing to Celebrate Anyway: Living Life Beyond Cancer
Even in the silence, Kylie decided that she would celebrate her victory herself. She had earned it. She had spent months fighting a battle that not everyone had the courage to face. She had fought alone at times, but she had also fought with an army of support behind her. It was time for her to let go of the bitterness of being overlooked and embrace the triumph of surviving.
Kylie’s journey didn’t end with the words “cancer-free.” It was just the beginning of a new chapter—one where she could live without the constant fear of disease, one where she could rebuild her life with joy and gratitude.
Today, Kylie continues to reclaim her life, taking small steps each day toward her new beginning. She is grateful for every moment, every breath, every hug. She finds peace in the simple things—sunshine, family, and the future that now lies ahead.
Her journey has not been easy, but it has made her stronger, more resilient, and more determined than ever. Kylie’s story is one of victory, even when the world seemed silent. She fought for herself, and in doing so, she proved that strength comes not just from surviving, but from living—truly living, beyond the disease.
And while no one congratulated her in the hospital that day, Kylie knows that her greatest victory is the life she now gets to live. She is cancer-free, and that’s all the celebration she needs.
Little girl born at 24 weeks reunites with nurses who cared for her in the NICU
Babies born prematurely fight their tiny uphill battles, but they aren’t alone. Denver Fox affiliate KDVR recently reported a story of one of those babies, now a little girl, who had the opportunity to meet the NICU nurses who cared for her in the early days of that battle.
Zoey was born at 24 weeks and 5 days, “extremely unexpectedly,” according to her mom. She was tiny, weighing in at just 1 pound 9 ounces. And like many babies, she faced many issues in her early life, which can sometimes be due to complications of being so tiny – brain bleeds, blood transfusions, seizures, and cerebral palsy. Her mom remembers those 124 days as “extremely scary and traumatic,” but she also remembered the team of nurses that got Zoey – and her mother – through those difficult times. Many NICU nurses spend their time and energy caring for their very small and delicate patients. While they see them grow and make gains, and hopefully eventually “graduate” from the NICU, don’t always get to see how their patients grow and thrive after they leave. But Zoey’s team did.
“I remember how tiny she was and all the conversations that we had had about potential prognosis,” one member of her care team at St. Joseph Hospital reminisced, “and to see her walking through our front doors and jumping and excited is really heart-warming.” She added, “We’re a part of their journey forever. They remember us forever and the impact that we’ve had on them, and they’ve had just as much impact on us and we’re a home away from home for them.”
Twenty-four weeks is widely considered the line of “viability” – a term that rose to public consciousness with the now-overturned Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. As medicine continues to develop, the legal term, “viability”, which has no basis in sound science and does not reflect the humanity of preborn babies, has become a moving target. Many more babies are surviving being born at 21-22 weeks than ever before. The 1973 Supreme Court decision said that the age of fetal viability “is usually placed at about seven months (28 weeks) but may occur earlier, even at 24 weeks.” In 2024, 28 weeks seems shockingly late, since babies like Zoey are surviving at earlier and earlier ages – even as young as 21 weeks.
But the attitudes of care teams for these babies – before and after birth – contributes a lot to helping the tiniest of babies survive and thrive. In fact, one recent study found better outcomes for babies born at 22 weeks when hospitals make an attempt to resuscitate every baby, rather than selectively resuscitating on physician or family preferences. Although the study was small, it found that when every baby is given proactive care, 53% survived as opposed to a 19% survival rate when reactively offering the same care to 22-week preemies.
For Zoey, the support of those who love her and the devotion of her care team carried her through those difficult early days in the NICU. Her mother wouldn’t have it any other way. “She is my entire world and I have never been so proud of somebody in my entire life. She has overcome so incredibly much in her short five years.”
