When I was diagnosed with metastatic appendiceal cancer in October 2023, my life changed drastically. The diagnosis came without a cure or specific treatment plan. It was a reality that shattered my dreams. At 40, having been married for three years and with a young daughter not yet two, the news was devastating.
I shared my early experiences on Fox News, detailing how I was stunned to receive a stage 4 cancer diagnosis despite minimal symptoms. I expressed my determination to fight fiercely for my husband and daughter. My focus became singular: doing everything possible to combat cancer.
The past three years have consisted of countless rounds of chemotherapy, possibly 45, alongside numerous surgeries, scans, and procedures. Travel to Texas for targeted treatment has become routine. Despite stage 4 cancer, life doesn’t pause.
While undergoing this intensive medical treatment, I remain a mother to my spirited 4-year-old. She is my world. Balancing roles as a wife, journalist, and daughter to elderly parents consumes all my energy.
The exhausting cycle includes traveling to Texas, enduring cold infusion rooms, returning to New Jersey, and spending days recovering. I then resume daily tasks like playing with my daughter, attending her dance classes, and running household errands.
Over time, I realized the absence of a definitive cure doesn’t mean the absence of victories. My notion of winning has shifted. Now, a win is being active with my family, completing everyday tasks, and finding joy in small moments.
When diagnosed, a friend mentioned that my journey was a chapter in my life’s story. This chapter is long and tough. Yet, the end of one’s story is unknown. I continue fighting and loving, hoping for many more chapters to unfold.
As a Senior Editor at Fox News Digital, my roles keep me anchored to my identity, providing therapeutic distraction from oncology timelines. Parenting my intelligent, empathetic daughter offers purpose, as we navigate challenges and explanations about my condition.