Jennifer Jackson, MD
For Dr. Jennifer Jackson, cancer is a part of the fabric of her everyday life. Her number one priority each day is to take care of the body that allows her to survive.
Like many healthy young adults diagnosed with cancer, her diagnosis was delayed. After being diagnosed with a blood clot in the inferior vena cava (IVC), the vein that returns blood from the legs to the heart, a nearby mass was discovered. Initially dismissed as an inflamed lymph node, the mass eventually was found to be leiomyosarcoma growing from the IVC. The cancer soon metastasized, spreading to her lungs.
Jenn and her husband, K.C., were devastated. Newly married and in the last year of her medical fellowship training, their plans for the future were permanently derailed by this highly aggressive tumor.
Her parents, sister and friends from all over the country pitched in when she desperately needed help. Her greatest supporter was her husband, who is her rock and bore the brunt of her struggle. He comforted her, cared for her and advocated for her in the hospital. He held her when she cried and told her she would be okay when their world was crumbling. Jenn survived by taking one breath after another; she credits K.C. as being the one who did the legwork of her survival.
Jenn happened upon a group called First Descents, an organization that provides adventure programs for young adults aged 18-39 with cancer. She went on a whitewater kayaking trip with them and felt empowered. She realized that despite the permanent changes in her bodys circulation that limited some athletic activities, she could still get out in nature and remain active.Jenn encourages other survivors to set exercise goals, noting that even a simple walk can improve strength, mental outlook and recovery.
Carol Mitchell
At the age of 81, Carol Mitchell was diagnosed with breast cancer following her annual mammogram. Her initial reaction was surprise and shock and it was very difficult to accept that she had cancer.However, as a Christian, she knew God was in control and would take care of her no matter the circumstances she faced.
Carol received wonderful support from her family, friends and the staff at UK Markey Cancer Center. Throughout her cancer journey, she sought advice from her doctors, prayed and stayed close to the Lord.
The time that she was in treatment took Carol out of her daily routine. However, she says in the biggest ways, her life did not really change. Her daughter, Ruth Babcock, now owns and operates Carol Lynn Originals & Events, the flower shop that Carol started 63 years ago. Carol continues to actively help with weddings each week and did so even during her treatments. Her son, Phillips Mitchell, is the owner of Phillips Mitchell Photography, which shares a building with the flower shop on East Main Street. She has 4 grandchildren, two of whom are adults living in Lexington and Dallas. The other two grandchildren are in high school at Sayre.
Carol has been in remission for 10 months and encourages others going through cancer to stay positive. She says to surround yourself with people who are supportive, and to know that God is willing to take on your burden, if you just ask Him to.
Bryan Wehrman
Bryan Wehrman has a strong family history of prostate cancer. In addition to his father, who as of September 2017 is a 15-year survivor, Bryan has 4 uncles and 2 first cousins that have battled the disease. He was already on track to begin early screening at the age of 40, however, he was prompted by faith to start even earlier, at the age of 35. He is very happy he made that choice, as he was diagnosed at the very young, rare age of 37. Early detection made all the difference.
The diagnosis came as a shock that left Bryan stunned, emotional, and vulnerable. The situation was even more emotional as he, his wife, Brittany, and 2 daughters, Ella Marie (then 3) and Harper (then 1) were expecting a new addition. Bryan was diagnosed with cancer on Friday, May 23, 2014 and his son, Baylor, was born on the following Tuesday. He experienced a huge range of emotions, from the extreme low of being diagnosed with cancer to the ultimate high of bringing a new life into this world. To get a son on top of all that was incredible.
Bryan had a great amount of support from family, coworkers, and close friends. Brittany was his rock as she had to take care of him, 3 young children, and run a household. He had a very special confidant and mentor who Bryan called the “Shark.” This person was very instrumental in keeping him positive and upbeat every day as he took on the battle and experienced an amazing spiritual journey along the way. He looks at his family each day and receives incredible strength and courage.
Experiencing cancer strengthened Bryans faith, made him slow down, be more present and appreciate the many blessings in life. It taught him to enjoy his children and family more and not to be so concerned with “whats next”?
Emily Roberts
Emily Roberts, who works as a Speech-Language Pathologist for Fayette County Schools, found a lump during a self breast exam. Her mom, a nurse, always encouraged Emily and her sister to do self-exams, and they listened. When Emilys breast became tender and sore, she knew something was not quite right. A bout with the flu took her to see her general practitioner where she asked him to feel the lump during the visit. He then referred her for a mammogram and biopsy. At age 32, Emily was diagnosed with Stage 2B breast cancer.
Her close family rallied around her in support, along with great friends, co-workers and a fantastic medical team–she says her infusion nurses felt like family.
Emily leaned on her faith for the strength to fight. “I am a spiritual person and truly feel like God is in control,” she explained. A daily habit became saying at least three things she was thankful for as soon as she woke up. Her mantra became, “This is not going to break me.”
Now that she is 2 and a half months into remission, Emily realizes that she wants to start giving back and support others going through a cancer diagnosis.
She learned along the way that she was stronger than she thought and it is important to take things one day at a time. Through good and bad days, she encourages others to know is that there is an ending to the madness, to be nice to yourself and listen to your body. “Cancer can be just a chapter, not an entire story,” Emily said.
While she is not the same “Emily” she was when she started this journey, she tries not to take anything or anyone for granted and thanks God for everyday He gives her on this Earth.
Casey Kerris
Ten years ago, Casey was newly engaged and preparing for grad school to become a Physical Therapist. She had been experiencing extreme fatigue, sharp abdominal pains, and was passing blood. After being misdiagnosed multiple times, she was referred to GI specialist Dr. Chen at Lexington Clinic. While Casey was athletic, had no family history and was an otherwise healthy 23-year old, a colonoscopy revealed colon cancer. Casey was shocked, but also relieved to have an answer. She had known the symptoms were atypical.
Her large family, along with friends, were continually supportive. Her tenacious mother Cheryl, her steadfast step-father Bob, encouraging sister Erin and devoted fiancé Mark walked by her side though diagnosis, treatment and healing. Additional family support included step and half-brothers Brian, Cody and Cameron, step-sister Lisa, grandparents Julian and Cora, and aunt Sandra.
Casey had a thorough medical team at Lexington Clinic. Her oncologist, Dr. Rachel Harper, always made her appointments about Caseys current state of being and not what was behind them. At the encouragement of her sister, Erin, she discovered yoga and found a consistent practice of connecting the mind and body through breath and movement.
These days, Casey is married to Mark, a joyful aunt to Olive and the proud mom of a rescued pup, Reese, and adopted cat, Leo, who assist with her continued healing. Casey is a yoga instructor and practices physical therapy.
Casey would like to say she was valiant through the entire process, but relied heavily on her husband, family, friends and future aspirations to keep fighting. She doesnt feel like a hero, but is just a girl that had a change in life course and redirected her path, the same way people do in any tragedy.
Sonia Woodall
Sonia Woodall fought her breast cancer battle 33 years ago. A side conversation with radiologist Dr. Tom Rice while sitting in an open house led Sonia to an exam with Dr. Sidney Hopkins. He felt that further testing needed to be done and recommended a biopsy.
She signed papers that if cancer was found, she approved a mastectomy. Her worst fear came true. She woke from the biopsy to find that her left breast was gone. About 3 months later, she had the right breast removed, as there were many precancerous cells found. She is still thankful that they didnt remove both breasts at the same time, as it was a deeply emotional experience.
Sonia became a volunteer with the ACS program Reach to Recovery, a program that pairs breast cancer survivors with those who have been recently diagnosed. She feels strongly that everyone needs to talk to someone who is going through or has been through a cancer diagnosis. She has now been a part of the Reach to Recovery team for 32 years and has spoken with breast cancer patients from not only Lexington, but across the United States as well.
Cancer changed her life by giving her a burning drive to not put off tomorrow what one can do today. She has served on several governor appointed boards, and was founder of the Breast Cancer Coalition, which helped form education in the state of Kentucky for womens health.
She is surrounded by her family that includes her husband of 52 years, both parents who are in their nineties, 2 sons and their wives, 5 grandchildren, her brother and sister. The advice she gives to others is to put on your armor and fight every day, if that is what it takes to live and survive.
LoriBeth Miller
Lori Beth Miller was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 45 after feeling something suspicious during a self-exam. She just happened to be scheduled for an annual exam in the following days; she was sent for an urgent mammogram and biopsy at that time. The next day, her radiologist confirmed it was breast cancer. Within an hour, her nurse navigator called her with details of a treatment game plan.
She faced her battle head on with the support of her husband and parents, as well as her phenomenal medical team and staff at KentuckyOne Health. She has since become very involved with KentuckyOnes cancer support group, which provides a contagious energy making her want to come back week after week.
Lori Beths strength to fight came from her belief that cancer would never be the end of her. She was diagnosed near the end of boating season in 2016 and was determined to make cancer a memory by the start of boating season in 2017– which she did! She had a plan for treatment that was clear and matter of fact: it became an issue only of executing the game plan step by step. Each piece brought her nearer to completing treatment and another day closer to the start of the new boating season.
To relieve symptoms, she sought several local resources. She elected to do physical therapy at KORT through their cancer rehab program. She also received personal massage treatments and even acupuncture.
From her perspective, it is essential to surround yourself with good people, and to learn as much as you can about your own treatment plan. Through this process, she has learned more about her faith and to celebrate each and every day!
Angie Green-Hampton and Trish White
Angie Green-Hampton and Trish White are sisters who have a shared experience in breast cancer. Angie has been cancer-free for 19 years and Patricia for 4 years. Both were diagnosed through mammograms. They recall being in utter shock and not believing that it could be happening to them.
Fortunately, the sisters had a large family to lean on for support. Angie found strength in her late husband, William Hampton, many friends, co-workers and staff. Trish relied upon her husband, 3 children and 5 grandchildren.
It has always been in Angies nature to fight through any adversary that she faced in life. A former karate instructor, she remembers wearing her karate shoes in the operating room as she, in her own words, “was going to kick cancers butt!”
Trish participated in a support group at KentuckyOne called Look Good, Feel Better. She also received strong support from her church family at Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. Her cancer journey has drawn her closer to God and He has taught her patience and endurance. She encourages others to always have a support system and never try to go through it alone. If you ask for help, it will be given to you.
Advice that Angie would give is to just have faith and to know that there are more medical advances than there were several years ago to fight cancer. She is more aware of her health and has helped to encourage other women to continue to have their annual mammograms and to be in tune with their whole bodies.
The sisters are very involved in Colors of Promise, a community-driven outreach organization aimed at increasing awareness and prevention of breast cancer among women of color in Kentucky. Trish serves as Treasurer and Angie is on the Advisory Board.
KayleeJo Willard
When Kaylee Jo Willard was 9 years old, she had leg pain that eventually led to paralysis. An MRI showed that she had Ewing Sarcoma, a type of tumor that forms in the bone or soft tissue. It is a rare type of cancer that affects mostly children and teenagers.
Her diagnosis was devastating to her parents and family. It left Kaylee Jo shocked and scared. Kaylee Jo was supported by family, including her parents, Brooke and Jim, and grandparents, Susan and David Conway. Kaylees friends, Kaylee Hockensmith and Kailyn Willoughby, as well as their families, were also with her along the way.
She received treatment and care at the Kentucky Childrens Hospital at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. She and her family will always be thankful for the wonderful care provided by the doctors and nurses on her medical team.
After experiencing a cancer diagnosis, Kaylee Jo believes that she is much stronger in her faith. She always tries to make the best out of each day. She is now 12 years old and a 7th grade student in Frankfort. Her mom and dad own a duplex with her grandparents, where they all live together. They have a lot of pets that Kaylee Jo enjoys taking care of.
Kaylee Jo found the strength to fight through praying and staying positive. She stayed busy as much as possible by doing crafts and playing games on her phone. She advises others to trust in God and to always keep a smile on your face, even though the most difficult times. No matter what, Kaylee Jo encourages others to trust in the Lord and pray every day; she truly believes that God will bring you through.
Marletta McDermott
Marletta McDermott was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 at age 40, after it was discovered that calcification deposits had turned into cancer. Unfortunately, breast cancer runs in the family. Three out of five sisters had breast cancer. Her late mother, who passed due to Alzheimers Disease, was battling breast cancer for the second time then. She has had aunts and a cousin that have battled the disease as well. She and her older sister both tested positive for the BRAC 2 gene.
When Marletta received the news, she remembers crying and overthinking details. She thought of her kids and family, including her son and daughter, now 24 and 21. She was concerned about losing a part of herself that she could never get back due to surgery, wondering how she would look afterwards and wondering if and when the cancer would come back.
Marletta found the strength to fight through her dad, kids, family and close friends. Her dad had to deal with his wife and older sister passing, as well as both of his parents dying of cancer. Marletta says her dad is her hero.
She reached out to the American Cancer Society and received educational materials from them. They paired her with another survivor from their Reach to Recovery Program; Marletta was given a mentor that had experienced her same type of cancer at the same age.
These days, Marletta enjoys her grandchildren, Avery and Kyran. She encourages others to live life to the fullest, love yourself, laugh even through the sadness, cry often and to not hold back tears. She suggests finding a support group and someone who will listen. She also says its important to educate yourself and ask questions.
While cancer changed her life, it has made her aware of how to take care of herself, exercise, eat right and always listen to her doctor.
Julie Gosky
Julie Gosky gives thanks for the opportunity to live her “ordinary, yet extraordinary” life. She explained, “The extraordinary is in the ordinary. Frankly, after cancer, something as mundane as a traffic jam gets a new perspective!” She says she now tries to be quicker to smile and slower to get angry.
Julie finished her treatment for ovarian and uterine cancer in December 2014. Her ovarian tumor was found after pain sent her to the ER. During surgery, the doctor discovered that the tumor had burst. Her medical team at Markey Cancer Center mapped out her course of treatment, consisting of dose-dense chemotherapy.
Julie has a long list of supporters from every corner of her life including her husband, Dave, and their 4 children. She also had family who sent lots of upbeat text messages, friends and coworkers who sent meals, an amazing team of treatment providers, a legion of survivors that inspired her with their stories and even the Jimmy Johns guy that delivered her a sandwich on days she was too tired to make one.
Julie experienced extraordinary kindness that stands out in her memory despite the mess that cancer causes. She works hard to “pay it forward” because she does not think she could ever repay everyones kindness. Along with her daughter, she started a Food Rescue group and they provide dinners to cancer patients staying at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge.
Julie admits to being challenged in dealing with the physical and emotional recovery process after treatment. Dealing with the loss of others she knows to cancer is especially trying. For Julie, there really is no “fair” when it comes to cancer.
Julie encourages others to take things one step at a time and to research treatment options to make informed decisions. Most of all, she says to accept help that is offered.
Khreonna Jones
Khreonna Jones has been cancer free since March 2016. Her cancer battle began at age 42 when she felt a lump in her armpit. She recalls putting it off due to not finding the time to go to the doctor, a habit that many women have. When it became uncomfortable, she finally went. Upon further testing, Khreonna was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.
Khreonna went blank when the doctor explained her diagnosis. Instead of thinking, she immediately went to God in prayer. She resolved to turn it over to Him and remember that it wasnt her battle, but she just had to go through the process. Shes always been a believer, but seeing and experiencing the work of God has truly grown her faith.
Khreonnas biggest challenge during her treatment was resting and not being able to do many things that she was used to doing. At the time of her diagnosis, she was working 2 jobs. Her support came from her family, including 2 daughters, Audraonna and Raushawnna, and granddaughter, Makenna. They are her world and biggest reason to fight.
She encourages others to remain positive, see the good instead of the bad and not worry about what may happen. Finding a good support group of loved ones is essential. Khreonna said, “They can encourage you, pray for you and be there for you, as you cannot fight alone.”
Khreonna can feel a change in her from the inside. She cannot quite explain, but she knows that God is a healer and nothing is too big for Him. She appreciates the little things and cherishes every precious moment. Her scars remind her daily of Gods goodness and she continues to pray for those who encounter cancer.
Dave Bell
Dave Bell has battled 2 types of cancer: colon and appendiceal. His symptoms began with intense stomach cramps for several days and eventual appendix rupture. It was then that he was diagnosed with cancer.
The father of 3 boys, his first thought was the fear that they would grow up without a father. He began his journey as a survivor with the help of two amazing doctors: Dr. Ashley Hammerback, his primary care physician who helped him to process his feelings and emotional well-being, and Dr. Erica Sutton, the surgeon he credits with saving his life. Both have become friends that have offered encouragement and healing physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
In the year that Dave has been cancer-free, he has connected with other survivors through organizations like the Colon Cancer Prevention Project. He discovered that talking with other survivors and fighters is like free therapy. Dave encourages others to keep a positive group around them.
Dave also wants others battling cancer to know that it is important to be your own best advocate, to listen to your body and to get a second opinion. He encourages you to connect with others who have been through what you are going through.
He realizes that he is a different person because of cancer and feels the impact on a regular basis. Anxiety that he did not have before his diagnosis can be tough to handle at times: it is difficult not to worry every time he goes to the doctor for blood work or other testing.
Daves strength comes from staying active. Following surgeries, he enjoyed going for walks and looked forward to his time alone with his thoughts in nature. He still carries this peaceful practice with him today.
Grace Cho
Grace Cho is currently in complete remission from Stage IV adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare form of breast cancer that accounts for less than 1% of all breast cancers. Her 5-year cancer-free anniversary is in November of this year.
She habitually performed self-breast exams and noticed a lump while in the hospital after giving birth to her son, Marcus. After first believing that it was a clogged milk duct, she realized after she stopped producing milk and the lump kept growing that she needed to have it checked out quickly.
Her physician, Dr. Craig Irwin, helped her receive all the testing that she needed. The results confirmed that it was cancer. Additional testing revealed that it had spread to her liver. Grace was determined that she was ready to fight and faced it head on.
Cancer runs in both her family and her husbands. She lost both parents as well as her father-in-law to cancer. Her mother-in-law, a non-smoker, is currently battling lung cancer. She has an older brother, Rob. Her beautiful and smart niece plans to go into the medical field to save lives of those facing a cancer diagnosis.
Graces family and friends have been her biggest supporters. She is incredibly blessed with a long list of those who have been in her corner. Strength to fight is inherent to Grace. She credits her mother for teaching her to push no matter how hard it is. She hopes to set a good example to others to never give up. Battling cancer is hard, and with it comes good and bad days.
Cancer has made Grace stronger and has given her a reason to keep fighting to help those unable to fight for themselves.