It started
with my story.

And grew into a mission to make sure no young adult faces cancer alone.

My Story

I never imagined cancer would become part of my story, especially in my early 30s.

At 31 years old, I was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer. At the time, I was a wife, a mom of three, building my career, continuing my education, and doing all of the things young adults are supposed to be doing—planning for the future. Suddenly, my life also included surgery, chemotherapy, scans, appointments, side effects, and learning an entirely new language that I never wanted to know.

I went through surgery and months of chemotherapy, and eventually reached a place where there was no evidence of disease. I started putting pieces of normal life back together. Then, less than a year later, cancer returned. This time, it had spread, making my diagnosis stage IV.

Going through cancer as a young adult has shown me that there is so much more to this experience than treatment. Cancer doesn't put the rest of your life on hold. We're still raising children, going to school, working, navigating relationships, worrying about finances, making plans, and trying to figure out who we are and what our futures will look like—all while carrying something most people our age can't fully understand.

And that can feel incredibly isolating.

But I've also learned how powerful community can be. Sometimes support is having someone to talk to who doesn't need an explanation. Sometimes it's sharing resources or learning how to advocate for yourself. And sometimes it's simply grabbing coffee, laughing, getting out of the house, and spending time with people who understand this life because they're living it too.

That's why I created Young Adult Cancer Alliance Las Vegas.

I wanted to create the kind of community I wished I had when I was diagnosed—a place where young adults affected by cancer can find connection, education, resources, advocacy, friendship, and hope right here in the Las Vegas Valley.

My cancer story may have been the beginning of YACALV, but this organization isn't about one person's story. It's about all of ours.

No one should have to face cancer alone. We are stronger together.