Ep 3 - Grit, Grief, and Grace: The Fight Against Brain Cancer and Premature Motherhood

In this third deeply personal episode, I open up about one of the most intense and pivotal months of my life—March 2024. Five months pregnant, and freshly referred to Duke’s renowned Brain Tumor Center for my husband Joel’s care, our little family—including our two beloved dogs—embarked on a journey full of uncertainty and fragile optimism.

As I recount this chapter, I’ll take you through the whirlwind of hospital intakes, the hopefulness and heartbreak that come with waiting for a new cancer diagnosis, and finding fleeting moments of joy amidst the chaos—like squeezing in a maternity photo shoot, even as the shadows of grief loomed large. Together, we’ll navigate the emotional rollercoaster of advocating for Joel while trying to prepare for our daughter Georgia’s arrival—when an unexpected medical emergency of my own threw us into even deeper waters.

This episode is a raw look at surviving as a caregiver, a soon-to-be mom, and, eventually, a widow. I’ll share the physical and emotional challenges of a high-risk pregnancy, the importance of reaching out for support, and those small, stubborn sparks of hope that kept us going—even when life spun completely out of control.

If you’re a young widow, a caregiver, or someone simply seeking honest stories of love and loss, I invite you to join me for this episode as we continue to find meaning and light—one story at a time.

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