02/02/2026
I’m at a loss for words- what a beautiful weekend filled with love and support from friends, family, fellow survivors, and the incredible DONNA family.
My photos app reminded me that 4 years ago on February 1st, 2022, I was coming out of twilight anesthesia for my port placement procedure so I could start AC-T chemo 1 week later. 4 years later, I’m on my third DONNA marathon weekend having run a full marathon in 2024, walked the half 4 weeks post-revision surgery, and now run a half marathon under 2:30, which was my HARD goal.
In the Mayo Patient Panel at the expo, talked about how the weeks between diagnosis and treatment were some of the most terrifying. The wait is excruciating, but both of us funneled that sense of powerlessness into action through exercise. In those moments, I envisioned days like yesterday as the faraway carrot I was chasing- surviving, thriving, and achieving hard things beyond what I could let myself imagine at the time. Until I heard Fitz talk about it, I had forgotten, and it brought some surprising tears when I realized that I have become exactly who I wanted to be in those dark days. Thank you for the reminder 💕
It was also so powerful to get to experience so many of these moments next to .thewidowsmight . Happy 10 years my sweet friend! Your friendship means the world to me, and I know we can BOTH do hard things.
I also want to thank my incredible donors, .thewidowsmight .manley.beard , Joe, Austin, Michael, Stephen, and others who I’m sure I forgot. It sounds so cheesy to keep saying that it means the world to me, but it really does - supplies hope, love, and support when the world can get very dark and small. Thank you. 💕
Last, thank you to my beautiful friends and partner for being there yesterday in the literal freezing cold. I love you all.
