2024 Recipients
Please scroll down to read all the stories of our amazing & inspiring recipients
Erica Nightingale
Cumberland, RI


My name is Erica Nightingale, I am 39 years old, and I have breast cancer. The way I found out was nothing short of a miracle. I had zero symptoms from the cancer, one night I was experiencing really bad lower-stomach pains. It got to the point I thought it could possibly be my appendix, so at 2 in the morning I drove myself to the ER. The doctors there were also leaning towards appendicitis, given my symptoms. They ordered an abdominal CT, and also did an ultrasound of the area. The ultrasound and CT scan came back clear (in the abdomen), nothing looks suspicious. However, the CT scan did catch a small lesion on my left breast, and advised further testing on that.
​
I got in touch with my PCP, and she ordered a breast ultrasound with mammogram, and they both came back as highly suspicious. Then of course, had a biopsy to confirm, and it was in-fact carcinoma.. it was a cancerous tumor.
I remember the day I saw my results in the portal, since you are now able to get the results the same time the doctors do. I had a little weekend getaway with my best friend of 27 years, to Newport. We had this planned for months, and I hadn't been on a “vacation” in many years. We were about 10 minutes away from our hotel, and I saw the results were in. I waited until we parked to open them, and that's when I found out I had a 2cm cancerous tumor in my body.
My first “vacation” in years started off with news of having cancer. I was absolutely devastated, and instantly felt hopeless. However, my best friend did a wonderful job at making sure I smiled as much as I could, and had as much fun as I could, given the situation… but there were lots of tears shed.
Fast forward to surgery on October 17th, I had a partial-mastectomy on the left breast, and a reduction with reconstruction on both breasts for symmetry. The recovery was a bit rough, I'm only 3 months post-op now, and my breasts are still tender to the touch. I completed 16 rounds of radiation, which I ended up with a burn under my armpit from it. I am now starting my 5 years of hormone-blockers for the cancer, since I was hormone positive and HER2-.
I have a 4 ½ year old son, named Cayden, who I just adore.. he is my absolute world and has been my biggest reason for fighting. It has been quite a journey, Cayden is non-verbal, has epilepsy and has some developmental delays. So add in the struggle/stress to make sure he got to all of his weekly appointments was tough. I had great support right after surgery from my family and friends, but it's still a mental nightmare. I know it'll always be in the back of my mind for the rest of my life, “did it come back?” Or “what if it comes back?”... It's a lifelong journey, for anyone with cancer I'd imagine.
I'm so thankful to have been chosen to share my story, and given the opportunity to receive help that's much needed during this time. I hope my story can helpful to someone, in one way or another, because even though it feels like it, we are not alone in this.
Sincere regards,
Erica

Christina Kincey
Attleboro, MA



In the beginning of 2023, I was struggling to stay focused and awake while working. This happened in the office and when I worked remotely. I tried my best, but it became apparent to my coworkers I was not able to keep up with my tasks. I raised concerns with my doctor and was prescribed anxiety medication. It didn't help. There was something wrong and I just wasn't myself. By February I was falling behind and was required to be in the office every day. This was exhausting mentally and physically. I had a performance review at the end of February and was asked to resign.
I met with my primary care doctor several times between March and August expressing my concern for something being off. There weren't any concerns with the blood work and no answers for why I felt ill.
Toward the end of August, I was having stomach pains and pains on my right side so the doctor ordered a CT scan. It was then they discovered a cyst the size of a basketball attached to my ovary. I met with my OB and was told it could be cancer. A radical hysterectomy was completed, and I was told I have Stage 1 Ovarian Cancer. The answer for why I wasn't myself.
The news was extremely difficult to share with the family. My younger children struggled with watching me start chemo instead of going on the Disney trip we already had booked for mid-September.
I started chemo September 12 and was scheduled for six sessions in three-week intervals. The first two rounds were brutal and I ended up in the hospital with excruciating nerve pain in my entire body. After meeting with my Oncologist, the decision was made to do chemo weekly with smaller doses since my body could not tolerate the treatment. Weekly treatment was more manageable with a hydration treatment two days after chemo every week.
The financial problems began when unemployment ended in November and I am not able to work. My husband stepped up and got a new job with a higher salary. It helped get us through November but his line of work outdoors slows down in the winter months. We were not prepared for December with Christmas and two of my children's birthdays. We did our best to explain how this year would be different than past years. I
Around Christmas another CT scan was ordered to see if the cancer had spread to any other parts of my body. It was then they found a two inch lump on my thyroid and diagnosed me with thyroid cancer. I am not able to have the lump removed until I finish chemo.
After several meeting with my doctors and social workers they have suggested I apply for social security disability. The side effects from chemo and the toll its taken on my body possibly leaving me permanently disabled. Only time will tell but I stay hopeful I can one day return to my career.
Best,
Christina
Bridget Burnett
Dover, NH



My name is Bridget, I am a 42 year old single mother of a beautiful 12 year old girl living in Dover, NH. I was a hard working single mom with 2 jobs that enjoyed being active, doing yoga and was healthy.
In September 2023, I felt a large lump overnight grow in my right breast. We pushed my mammogram up to October and after an ultrasound and biopsy I was diagnosed on October 23, 2023 with a very rare and aggressive, triple negative, stage 3B Metaplastic breast cancer that has spread to my Lymph Nodes. The tumor tripled in size in just 6 weeks and almost 9cm on the outside, so we went right down to Mass General Cancer Center. They rushed me through all the tests and scans and then had me immediately into Chemo within 4 weeks. I could see it growing and becoming painful and swollen red. They need to shrink my tumor before the surgery to be successful.
I am on my 8th treatment, having them in Dover and have 20 weeks total of chemo. They are throwing the book at me. I am wearing the Cool Cap to help save my hair, but I have lost about 40% and I am now having bad bone pain and aches, not to mention the emotional roller-coaster of the way Chemo affects you. Breast cancer does not run in my family and thankfully I do not have the gene.
I am battling this on my own with no one at home to really help. I try not to show my daughter what I am going through so her life can be as normal as possible. I was between my day job when this all happened, so I do not have a full-time job and I am all on my own financially. I am lucky to be able to work 1 day a week at my 2nd waitressing job which is very hard when going through Chemo and being exposed to crowds with a low immune system. Raising my daughter alone and having to worry about paying bills during this time is not fair. Anything helps right now, and I am grateful for the Carin MacLean Foundation.
Tamera James
Newport, RI


My name is Tamera, and I am 27 years old. In March 2024, I received life-altering news that has since shaped my journey in ways I could never have anticipated. I was in class, working on the prerequisites for my nursing program, which I planned to start in January 2025. Nursing has always been my passion, a way to give back and help others, and I was excited to finally be on this path. Little did I know that my life was about to take an unexpected turn.
In 2023, I gave birth to my first child, a beautiful baby boy named Jaiden. Becoming a mother was a dream come true, something I had always wanted. Like many new moms, I was adjusting to the demands of motherhood while trying to balance my health and well-being. After giving birth, I hadn’t had a chance to get a regular checkup, and I noticed that despite my best efforts, I wasn’t losing the weight I expected. This prompted me to request a full bloodwork panel during a routine visit, hoping to find some answers.
During one of my classes, I stepped out for a bathroom break when I received a call that would change everything. My doctor informed me that my blood-work showed signs of leukemia, and I needed to see a haematologist/oncologist as soon as possible. I had no symptoms. I was not sick. I had no pain… In that moment, my world seemed to shatter. I went from taking nothing but vitamins to being thrust into a world of medications and treatments I had never imagined I would need.
As someone who has always found joy in helping others, I couldn’t help but feel that this diagnosis was incredibly unfair. I’ve always believed in giving without expecting anything in return, but now I found myself on the receiving end of help, and it was a difficult adjustment. Yet, through this journey, I’ve learned that it’s okay to ask for help, and that it doesn’t make you weak—it makes you human.
My family has been my rock through this challenging time. My husband, who has been my support system since we were in high school, has stood by me, and together we’ve faced this battle head-on. Our son, Jaiden, has given me strength and purpose, reminding me every day why I must keep fighting. Even in the darkest moments, his laughter brings light to our lives.
I am incredibly thankful to the Carin MacLean Foundation for selecting me for this grant. The financial assistance they’ve provided has been a lifeline, allowing me to focus on my health and my family rather than the mounting medical bills. Sharing my story is the least I can do to express my gratitude.
I hope that by sharing my journey, I can offer comfort and solidarity to other moms who are going through similar challenges. It can often feel like we are alone in this battle, but I’ve learned that we are not. There is a community of support out there, and organizations like the Carin MacLean Foundation are there to help when you need it most.
Thank you for allowing me to share my story. I hope it serves as a reminder that even in the face of adversity, we can find strength within ourselves and in those who stand by our side.
Entirely grateful,
Tamera
Khadidiatou Dieng
North Providence, RI

My name is Khadidiatou Dieng, I am married, and I have 3 wonderful daughters aged 15, 7 and 4 years old. On August 8,2023, I felt a lump under my armpit, two days after it disappeared. In September, it came back and was bigger.
I saw my PCP who ordered a mammogram and an ultrasound. Days after, my doctor called me and said that it may be breast cancer. He then referred me to an oncologist who ordered mammogram, ultrasound, biopsies and scans. On October 16th, the Oncologist confirmed that it was a tumor board ductal carcinoma grade3 ER/PR/HER2 negative type of breast cancer.
I have undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy, unfortunately it was not working well. On May 8th, 2024, I had a mastectomy and lymph node removal. I am still receiving chemo. The doctor switched to Trodelvy. I hope that this one is going to work.
The Breast Health Team at Kent Hospital is making me better cope with my condition because of the great level of support they are providing me with. I am also very grateful for the help the Carin Maclean Foundation is granting me as it is going to be a big relieve.
Corleen Calhoun
Bradford, MA



I am writing on behalf of my sister-in-law Corleen Bulger Calhoun.
Corleen is 40 years old with a 9-year-old son and loving husband of 15 years.
Corleen's difficult journey began on May 23, 2024 after a routine mammogram revealed an abnormality and an enlarged node in her right axillary. Shortly thereafter she had a biopsy which determined there was Metastatic Carcinoma, consistent with Breast Primary Carcinoma. After having an MRI and a second Biopsy, she underwent a sentinel node and right breast centralized lumpectomy on July 2, 2024. The results showed she had a clinical stage 1A right breast invasive ductal carcinoma. After meeting with an excellent team of doctors, it was determined she would need to undergo four rounds of chemotherapy, once every three weeks, followed by radiation treatment.
Corleen has been out of work since learning of her diagnosis to focus on her healing journey, both mentally and physically. Corleen has been married to my brother for over 15 years and has been a part of my life for more than 20 years. Corleen has made the decision to utilize cold cap treatments to minimize hair loss for personal reasons, the primary one being her 9-year-old son Deacon. Currently, Corleen has undergone 2 chemotherapy sessions. She has been experiencing bone pain, a chemo rash which causes intense burning, extreme fatigue, hair loss (despite the use of cold caps), as well as what she would describe as "chemo brain", which causes forgetfulness, decreased ability to concentrate, and varying uncontrollable emotions at times.
Corleen has a full-time-job as a medical secretary in the Radiation Oncology Department at a local hospital where she has worked for the last 10 years. To say she loves her job is an understatement. She has always shown love and compassion, and has been a beacon of light as she assists patients with scheduling their appointments, and supporting both patients and caregivers as they receive their treatments. When I think of a word that would describe Corleen many come to mind, however, selfless is the one that stands out the most. She is the most giving and supportive person I know. She has always put others before herself and has done an amazing job being a loving mom to Deacon, and wife to my brother Scott. Despite everything she is experiencing she shows a level of courage with such grace and positivity.
Corleen and Scott are so grateful for this foundation. It is foundations like yours that make this process less stressful. Being a non-profit, volunteer-run organization is a special gift for all those after receiving a cancer diagnosis. On behalf of Corleen, Scott, Deacon and myself we are forever grateful for the love and support.
Sarah Flaherty
Manchester, NH



In the summer of 2022, I noticed a lump in my breast and chalked it up to be a benign cyst and over time I thought it would just go away. Summer past by, and the lump became much larger and painful. My boss had just been diagnosed with breast cancer herself, and begged me to get it looked at. So in October, after 2 mammograms, MRI, CT scan and biopsy, I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. I had the surgery to remove the tumor and had my lymph nodes biopsied as well. Four weeks later, and the day before I was to return from work, I fell climbing up a flight of stairs at a trampoline park. I suffered an avulsion fracture to my pelvis, which later revealed that the cancer had spread to my bones and other parts of my body, including my brain, spine, pelvis and liver.
As you can imagine this news flipped our world upside down. I had just been promoted to lead tech at my pharmaceutical job and was going to finally be making enough money to get my family of 5 out of our tiny 2 bedroom apartment. Since then, I have been unable to return to work due to chronic pain and fatigue from the oral chemo and hormone therapy. My daughters are ages 4, 7, &10 and their names are Julia, Olivia and Sophia. They are my pride and joy, my reason to keep up the great fight against this nasty beast called Cancer. My family is currently living paycheck to paycheck on just my husbands salary and what little I can get from SSDI, which we all know, in today's economy is next to impossible.
Sincerely,
Sarah Flaherty and her Family
Xoxo
Marilyn Antonetty
Lynn, MA

My name is Marilyn. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2024. It was very shocking. I had to have two major surgeries, a double mastectomy, and lymph nodes removed two weeks apart. That was really traumatic for me. Now I’m doing my chemo, and it hasn’t been easy, but I’m getting through it. Losing my hair has given me PTSD. I haven’t been able to deal too well, but I have to be strong for my children. I have two boys and a girl who have been so helpful and understanding. I know they suffer for me, but they are stronger than I can say for myself.
​
I still have a long road ahead of me, but I trust my medical team, and together we are fighting for me to be cured of this awful disease. I appreciate you taking the time to hear and see me. I wasn’t ready for any of this, so monetarily, I’m not doing well, so any help is most greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your kindness!!!
​
Sincerely,
Marilyn Antonetty
Doreen Maya
Lynn, MA




I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer when I was 4 months postpartum at the age of 37. I am a mom of 4. Also, my oldest child is autistic so my kids rely a lot on me. I have a long road to my recovery and sometimes it feels like it will never end, but I have faith that God will get me through.
I am halfway through chemo/immunotherapy and I feel like a warrior already. After chemo is done, I will have a double masectomy and radiation.
I feel like my kids are my biggest motivation in surviving breast cancer. I stay strong because of them. I have also found support in fellow breast cancer survivors. It really is the worst club with the very best members. I had to stop working in order to start my treatment. I am very thankful to be a recipient to your grant. It is one less thing to worry about in such uncertain times.
Courtney Carter
Cumberland, RI


I have been battling a rare form of Leukemia for over 2 years now. It is called Acute Myeloid Leukemia. I found out because of routine checkup during my pregnancy. Having undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy, which have not proven to work. Chemo didn’t do what I needed it to, so the only form of action left was to undergo a bone marrow transplant. I was blessed with a match and had the transplant on May 5th, 2022. But I had to be away from my baby for 3 weeks. It was so hard to be in the hospital for many weeks without her. But I did it, but the the recovering part is so much harder.
I have gone through so many battles after the chemo and transplant. I lost my hair several times, broke out in rashes, gotten sick with a drop of a hat, problems with my vision, stomach issues, all due what they call GVHD. I know I’m strong but this has been stronger on me. After some time, I finally got good news. After many tests and doctor visits, the doctors don’t see anymore cancer. I’m in Remission! I pray it stays this way. The BMT has given me a second chance. And I am beating cancer!! I will continue to fight this hard battle! For my child and for my family and for myself ! And I couldn’t have gone this far without the support of my family, friends and doctors.

Kayla Chase
Portsmouth, RI



2022 started off for me as the most successful and positive year I have had in a long time. I was working on the Army officer candidate school while working full time in the Rhode Island Army National Guard. I was married to the love of my life and my son was 15 and becoming a great young man. I was also prepping for my fifth fitness competition. My life was so busy but I was so happy busy I strive when I am slammed with work.
In April, I competed and not only won first place but beccame a Pro Athlete for the federation. I was on cloud 9 I never thought that I would ever place top three never mind actually winning first place and become a Pro Athlete. Unfortunately, only a few weeks later my husband left for a 10-12 month deployment to Kuwait but I wasn’t nervous about us. I knew we would be just fine. So, he left and I worked and held down the house. I had to go away in July for 2 weeks for the final 2 weeks of the OCS (officer candidate school) training in hot Alabama. I even had to shave my head to meet requirements for graduation. At the end of completion, I was ecstatic for it to be done since it was an 18 month program and the most stressful 18 months of my life.
On September 11th was my graduation. I have never been so proud of myself in my life. Everything was looking up for myself and my family’s future. During my military training, I had notice a small hernia above my belly button and had pushed the surgery off until after the OCS process was done. I had scheduled the surgery for September 27, 2022. I had the normal pre-surgery labs that had to get done. Which I did and the results back came back a little funky. My doctor did not like the results and had me go to the emergency room to have them checked there. It was a Friday afternoon, actually the Friday before the surgery, and I was not happy about this. I figured I would go and they would do the labs give me some fluids and send me home. Nope not what happened. I went and they admitted me. They had no idea what was wrong with me. I was in the hospital for a week they did a kidney biopsy and everything.
While I was there I called the Red Cross and had my husband flown home from deployment because I had no idea what was going on. I was in stage 5 kidney failure and had no idea how tis even happened. I felt completely fine but in the blood labs, my kidneys were failing. After a week I was sent home and my doctor referred me to go to Dana Farber to get a better look at my kidney biopsy and they decided I needed a bone biopsy to really see what was going on.
At this time, it is now December and still no answers. During all this of uncertainty with my health, out of nowhere my son’s father, my first husband, was found dead at the age of 37. It was two days before my sons 16th birthday. Since he never remarried or had any kids, my son was the next of kin and had to make all the funeral decisions. (With the help of his family, I was so thankful for everything they did.) Since my son was under 18, I had to make the decisions for him, mentally I was losing it. At the same time my current husband had to go to Texas to do some stuff for the Army because they decided he could stay home with me instead of go back to deployment because my health was so uncertain. Life was spiraling downwards in so many aspects I mentally was becoming so exhausted.
Finally in December the doctors figured out what was wrong with me. They discovered that I have a very rare blood disease called Monoclonal Immunoglobulin depositon disease also know as (LCDD) Light Chain Deposition Disease. Which also runs hand and hand with Multiple Myeloma. There is no cure for the disease and the only way they know how to treat is to treat it the same way as a Multiple Myeloma patient. You see, the disease causes my body to produce a protein that then has been depositing in to my kidneys and deteriorating my kidneys. They don’t know the caused this disease, where it came from, how long I have had it or anything. And at any point, it could turn into full blown Multiple Myeloma.
I started 9 months of chemotherapy and a couple other treatments once a week. During that time frame my husband decided he no longer wanted to be married while we were in the middle of finding a new place to live. I literally was losing everything that was what made me. But I knew that I had to keep going if not for me but for my son. I am literally all he has left.
I finish the full chemotherapy treatment in August and then I was put on maintenance treatment starting August. Which is a very very small dose of chemo and some other medicines. I would be on this for about a year and a half. My disease numbers have gone down so much. However, my kidney function has not changed at all. The doctors and I thought maybe they would come down to better functioning but unfortunately the damage is irreversible.
I met with my kidney doctor in October 2023 and decided that in January he would revisit me, check my numbers and talk to my oncologist to see if I could be put on the kidney transplant list. When I found out about the transplant I had to tell the military because I am still active duty. They told me since I am getting the transplant, I will have to be medically separated and I will have to find another career. However, this was my plan to retire at 20 years and I am currently only at 13.
Continuously I felt like my life was never going to get better. EVERYTHING WAS GETTING TAKING FROM ME. My hobby, fitness, health, marriage, job … everything. I did find a home for my son and I to move into a but I am now divorced, sad, and still heartbroken but healing and staying as strong as possible.
I saw the kidney doctor again and he wants to wait a little longer to put me on the kidney transplant list. My oncologist is really happy with the way my disease numbers have gone down. The only thing they are afraid of is putting a new kidney in me and the disease coming back and killing the new one too. I still have a long road ahead of me but I am hopeful and thankful for all those that have stepped up and helped me in the hardest year and a half of my life.
I am also currently working with more of a holistic approach and changed my diet to more of a raw and organic with more exercise and clean alkaline water. I'm trying to heal myself as much as I can naturally and learn ways to then help others the same way. I am hoping to find ways to live with this disease so I can help others if they ever find themselves in my shoes.
Thank you so very much to the Carin Maclean Foundation for the incredible grant. It is going to help my son and I so much since there has been so much movement in our life especially with finances. It is only me working and trying to heal mentally and physically, but I am a fighter and will never give up. It could always be worse even when I have been living with a dark cloud over me for a while. However, there is always a rainbow after the storm.




Merianne George
West Kingston, RI

Hi my name is Merianne. I’m 45 years old from West Kingston, Rhode Island. I have two children, my son Scott, 20 and my daughter Morgan, 14. I was a teacher assistant at my local preschool working with special needs children in November 2023. I had to have emergency spinal surgery which kept me out of work for eight weeks. During that time, I had my routine mammogram which I got called back for suspicious calcification after the biopsy. I was told it was cancer that one word that no one ever wants to hear and you never think it will happen to you.
My first thought was my children, that I was so young and I had so much more to live for. After seeing my oncologist, at the Kent Breast Center, I was told I would need a lumpectomy and radiation. The cancer was HR positive and within a couple of weeks I had a hysterectomy. The first lumpectomy/reconstruction the results came back that there was some more cancer. Two weeks later I had the second lumpectomy which still came back more cancer. At that point, I was devastated with four surgeries within four months. I said my body just can’t take anymore. I hadn’t even healed from the back surgery and after a recent MRI of my back, they say I need a second back surgery, but I will not do anything right now with the cancer.
I know now I have to get prepared for at least another couple more surgeries. I became depressed and my emotions were everywhere. I didn’t even want to go to the mall with my daughter or just do normal every day things. My 20-year-old son was so supportive, taking me back-and-forth to the surgeries and staying right by my side. My daughter, Morgan, was definitely more emotional about the whole situation. First thing she asked me, "mom, am I going to get cancer?" It broke my heart to hear that come out of my child’s mouth.
The next step in this journey is to get a double mastectomy, which is definitely taking a toll on me emotionally and will be physically but I have to keep in the back of my mind. I want to be healthy just to get through this. In the meantime, I had missed so many days at work that I was terminated from my job of eight years. Now with no income, I have car payments, medical bills, and two children that still need my support. I am even more depressed.
When I had to ask my 20-year-old to borrow $100 that was probably the worst feeling besides getting told you have cancer! Without a question he gave it to me. My double mastectomy is scheduled for August 8th. I am just hoping that all goes well with recovery and hopefully schedule another back surgery before my reconstruction in the fall.
The only thing I want right now is to get back to being a mom for my children which they need right now and be cancer free I can’t thank you enough for what you do. It makes me believe that there are still angels in the world!!
Sincerely,
Merianne


Fanny Montas
Lawrence, MA



My name is Fanny Montas, I'm 43 years old and I have breast cancer. I found out because it was time for my year check up, and once I was done I waited in the room for the doctor. The doctor came in and informed me that my right breast had more calcification then the left breast and he wanted to make sure it was nothing bad. I told the doctor, yes, I'd rather be safe than sorry.
The biopsy was scheduled and completed, and the office of the Dr. Hartmann call me to schedule an appointment for the results. They insisted so much that I knew something was not right, so on 5/24/24, the doctor gave me the big news - that I had stage one breast cancer. I had no symptoms at all. At first I was fine and then when I left the doctors office, reality hit me and I started crying. I called my sisters and told them. I did not known how I was going to tell my mother or my 14 year old boy.
My sisters were and are very supportive, I could not sleep that night thinking. I sat down with my son and explained to him what was going on with me; that there is a treatment plan, and also explain to him what will happen to my hair. I check on him every day to make sure he is doing fine with all this going on, since he is so quiet. I have done 3 round of chemo so far and am eating a more healthy diet to help with the process.
At my job everyone is so supportive and making sure I'm ok. For now I take it one day at the time and I know better days will come once I beat this cancer by next year, 2025.
I’m grateful to share my story. I keep strong by not letting the cancer get to my head or thoughts. I'm grateful that it was early detection. And like I said to myself, I'm embracing this new era in my life. I'll keep doing what I do, and I'm so thankful to share my story and to get the help and support I need.
Tabitha Delossantos
Cranston, RI


My name is Tabitha, and I am 38 years old and married for almost 17 years with 3 kids. I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer last June 2023. Breast cancer runs in my family on both sides, so I always feel for lumps in my breast when I’m in the shower or just laying in bed. One night my husband says, Babe what is that? I felt my left breast and it was a small hard lump. I figured it was just a cyst or a blocked milk duct as my mom has had plenty of those because, why would I get breast cancer? It was like this lump came out of nowhere. One day there is no lump, and then the next there it is.
I did all the necessary testing to find out it is indeed triple positive left invasive ductal carcinoma stage 2a. It was caught early, and my doctor’s best course of action is chemo, surgery, and then radiation with hormone therapy after for 5 years. We go home and my husband and I tell our kids, and we all cry it out. We let them know that I am going to fight this cancer and beat it.
We are a Christian family and God played a very important role in my treatment. I tried to stay as positive as I could and kept a smile on my face as I continued to work. Eventually chemotherapy got to be too much for me, and I could no longer work while receiving treatment and I took the next 6 months off to rest and fight. God eased my pain as I had a whole church praying for me. Those 6 months out of work and on TDI was rough and we struggled.
God, my husband, and my 3 children helped my get through it. Without them I would never have made it. They were supportive, helpful, encouraging, and having my faith in God pulled me through. Recovery from chemo, then surgery, and then radiation took its toll on me, and I will never be the same, but knowing that I had all that support was an amazing loving feeling.
I am so thankful to be chosen for this grant is a blessing as I am still behind on some bills and would like to catch up. I hope sharing my story with people who are going through the same thing I did is helpful to them. God is always there when you need him, and he is always ready for you. Staying positive and praying got me through and now I am on the road to recovery. I still think about the what ifs, but I feel like that’s normal. I want to live each day and praise the Lord and just love life again.
God bless you,
Tabitha
Kate Kirchberg
Norwood, MA




I first learned about my cancer during a stay at Newton-Wellesley Hospital for severe stomach pain. The doctors woke me with the news—it was stage 4 peritoneum cancer. Their grave expressions said it all. Breaking the news to my husband was one of the hardest moments of my life, and eventually, I had to tell my 11-year-old daughter as well. That marked the beginning of my journey.
​
After starting with the oncology department at Newton-Wellesley, I realized I wanted to pursue care with a surgeon through Tufts. To make this possible, I changed our insurance, a decision I’m still confident was the right one. Moving to Tufts required taking the commuter rail into the city, which brought back memories of living there—its energy, its chaos, and all the challenges that come with it.
​
During this time, sharing my diagnosis with others was both necessary and difficult. Telling my loved ones meant hearing their pain, confusion, and grief, which only added to the emotional weight I was already carrying. At first, I felt hopeless. But the team at Tufts has provided incredible care, addressing every side effect and concern with compassion and expertise.
​
I feel deeply fortunate to be here in Massachusetts, surrounded by exceptional doctors, nurses, and support teams. Next week marks my final chemo treatment, and after that, I’ll move on to surgery. For the first time, I feel a sense of hope.
​
Thank you so much for considering our application and providing additional funds to help us care for ourselves during this challenging time. Your support means the world to us.
​
Sincerely,
Kate Kirchberg
Alison Bolt
Portsmouth, RI
In the September of 2019, I started to notice some changes in my left breast. I didn't think it was anything to worry about because I had a clean mammogram in August of 2019. The change I noticed was a zinger sensation on the outsider of my breast that radiated towards the nipple. In October, my nipple inverted and the zingers got more frequent but I continued to ignore the changes because I had so much going on and I didn't have the time to deal with anything. In November the zingers turned to pain and became almost constant and the skin on the outside of my breast started to turn a bit red. I needed to just get through the holidays and then I could deal with it.
In December, I went to my PCP because I couldn't tolerate the pain anymore and the skin was now red and warm to the touch. My PCP thought it might be mastitis and prescribed antibiotics. I thought it was weird to have mastitis so long after breast feeding (almost 4 years since my last child stopped breast feeding). At this point I pushed for additional testing and requested an MRI. In January insurance finally agreed to an MRI. There was a suspicious spot on the MRI findings and a Mammogram was scheduled. The day of the mammogram they also ordered an ultrasound with biopsy of the suspicious spot.
On February 6, 2020, the breast surgeon called and asked me to come in right away. They brought me to a room with just chairs and very soft lighting. I knew this couldn't be good. The nurse sat by my side and the surgeon told me I had breast cancer. He proceeded to tell me that my case would be discussed at the next tumor board and that I would meet with the Oncology team the next week. I was stunned but not surprised. I had known in my gut something wasn't right. On my way home from the surgeons office I called my husband, my sister and a good friend. I was circling the wagons to get my support system in place. My kids were little and I needed to figure out how to tell them and not scare them. I had to let my friends know that I was starting this crazy fight and that although I needed support I didn't expect them to be on the ride with me. I let my family and friends know that although I needed help I would be completely okay if they couldn't handle being in the trenches with me. It was my fight not theirs!
When I met with my oncology team, they told me I had Triple Positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in situ and it was stage 1B because there was suspicion of 1 lymph node being impacted. I met the entire oncology care team and they told me that they were going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at me. I would have chemo first then surgery followed by radiation then maintenance depending on the tumors response to chemo. My chemo regimen would be TCHP, Taxol, Carboplatin, Herceptin & Perjeta. I would get treatment once a week for 12 weeks and get imaging done at week 10 to see what the tumors response has been to the chemo. On the day of my second chemo treatment, the world shut down due to Covid. I would do the rest of entirety of my treatments alone. My sister would drop me off at the front door to the hospital and would pick me up after treatment. She would drop me at my front door where I would go straight to my bedroom to quarantine. My husband had to handle all of the kids schooling, navigate getting groceries delivered, cooking meals, keeping up with work and caring for me. He has been my rock and I have no idea how we would have made it through if he wasn't so amazing! I was made inpatient a couple of times for neutropenia and it was so lonely and scary. Just a few doors down were people with Covid on ventilators. I was petrified!
After completing 10 rounds of chemo the imaging showed I was having an amazing response and it was recommended I do another 6 weeks of chemo instead of the 2 weeks to see if I could achieve a complete response. By week 16, 2 additional weeks were added on to achieve that complete response before surgery. 18 straight weeks of chemo, so hard on my body and my mind but it was worth the complete response. I was given 4 weeks to rest and heal before my bilateral mastectomy and removal of 1 lymph node. I will never forget waking up from anesthesia and my surgeon leaning over and saying "congratulations, you are cancer free!". I started the reconstruction process a week later and would start radiation the following month. I had a few complications along but on January 31, 2020 I had my final radiation treatment. I would start the new year by healing and getting my maintenance regimen started. In March of 2021 I began Kadcyla which I would get every 3 weeks for 8 months and I would follow that with Tamoxifen. I was expected to be on tamoxifen for 10 years. Now was the time to get back to normal life.
It was recommended that I lose weight and I tried like heck but being in medical menopause made it so hard and all of the treatment had made me gain so much weight I was at an all time high of almost 300 lbs. I decided weight loss surgery was the best way for me to lose the weight and keep it off to keep my percent risk down. I did not want to get cancer again! I went through almost 9 months of dieting, doctors appointments and therapy prior to having a Duodenal Switch in October 2022. The weight was falling off and I was starting to get my energy back. I was feeling great! Around Thanksgiving my back was really bothering me and I chalked it up to being stressed and adjusting to my new weight. In December, I had my annual visit with my Oncologist and mentioned the back pain that had been getting worse. I still thought maybe I had hurt myself and the stress of working full time and the holidays was contributing. He recommended an MRI just to make sure there was no big injury so I could move on and keep doing all the things.
On December 12, 2022, on my way home from my MRI heading to meet my parents for dinner with the kids I got a phone call from my Oncologist. He asked if I had someone with me and I told him I was in the car with my kids but was just pulling in to the restaurant parking lot. He waited while I get the kids out of the car and in my parents hands then he told me… the cancer was back. I had a metastatic lesion in my T10 vertebrae and that was what was causing the pain. He told me not to worry and that he had a plan and we would get treatment started ASAP. I knew he would take great care of me but that didn’t change the fact that I was now Stage 4 and would never be truly cancer free.
For the second time in 4 years I circled the wagons and prepared to fight. My radiation started right away and I would have surgery 2 days after Christmas to inject cement into the vertebrae. The cement would build up the vertebrae as well as encapsulate the lesion. After surgery and radiation, I started chemo. This time I would get Docetaxel, Herceptin and Perjeta. I would get chemo every 3 weeks for 6 months. It was really hard this time. I was more sick and felt so tired and weak. I landed myself in the ICU soon after my first chemo treatment for neutropenia and septic from an infection of unknown origin. After 5 days in the hospital, I was finally okay to go home and continue with treatment as normal. I had my final round of chemo in June of 2023 and would prepare for surgery to have my ovaries removed in July of 2023 to stop the production of estrogen in order to continue to decrease my risk of recurrence. I would also start my maintenance treatments of Exemestane daily and Herceptin and Perjeta every 3 weeks. I will be on this treatment regimen for the rest of my life or until it stops working.
I was going about life and doing all the things. Just trying to be present for my kids, work full time and contribute to maintaining the household. I had noticed some neuropathy after my chemo in 2020 and it had gotten worse after the chemo in 2023. It seemed to be continuing to get worse even though I was finished with chemo. I also noticed I was becoming more unsteady on my feet and tripping over my right foot a lot. It was like it wasn't moving when I wanted it to. Finally after falling in an airport on my way home from a business trip I decided to say something. At this point I was walking with a cane and had to wear an AFO brace to keep the toe of my right foot up so I didn't trip over it. I had permanent damage to my perineal nerve and it had caused drop foot. My fingers and toes were still numb and I was also starting to notice some cognitive and executive function delays that were getting worse by the day. This added other therapies to my daily routines. I was in physical therapy twice a week, occupational therapy once a week and speech and language therapy once a week. Add to that hydration once a week on the weeks I didn't have treatment and all of my follow up appointments and routine screenings.
My healthcare was a full time job and I was struggling to keep all the balls in the air. The crazy healthcare schedule plus working full time and trying to be at all of the things for the kids and keep up with my end of the household tasks was causing an amazing amount of stress. So much so that I developed an ulcer and a constant tension headache that did not respond to any type of pain relief. I started to really notice a struggle in keeping up at work and was constantly stressed because tasks that should take an hour were taking a couple of days. I was also struggling to find my words and started stammering when I spoke in meetings. I was slowly losing my ability to keep up. Something had to give. My care team recommend I consider stopping work. I needed to focus on my health so I could be the best me for my family. It was a very hard decision, I loved what I was doing for work but I wasn't bringing 100% to anything. The stress got so bad that I spent an entire day being sick and got so dehydrated and depleted that I needed an ambulance to take me to the ER. My son (age 11) told me the next day that he was really scared when they put me in the ambulance. He said "Mom, I was so worried you wouldn't come home". That was it, how could I be so selfish and continue to put my family and myself through this. The following week I spoke to my boss and told her I had made the decision to take a leave of absence and that I would transition in to short term and possibly long term disability. They had been so good to me through all of my treatment that I wanted to be transparent and let them know exactly what I was planning.
When I told my care team about my decision and that I had started my leave of absence they all said how proud they were of me for making such a hard decision. They knew I had to be the one to decide when the time was right and that they supported my decision 100%. It was time to start putting myself and my family first. The stress and ulcer pain improved almost immediately until my husband and I started to discuss what the finances would look like. My income was a large piece of how we could afford our lifestyle. We don't live lavishly by any stretch. We have a modest house, we have used cars and we don't spend money on meals out, travel or name brand cloths. We focus our spending on making our home comfortable, keeping our cars running and keeping up with the kids activities and needs. How were we going to manage all of that plus the mounting medical bills for my care? How would we handle paying for health insurance when my policy ended once I started on SSDI? What have I done? This was supposed to be less stressful, I was supposed to be focusing on my health and family and now all I can think about is what I can sell to make some extra money to keep up with our needs. I expressed my concern to the counselor at the cancer center and she told me not to worry there was help available and she would guide me through it. That is where I was connected to amazing foundations such as this that help women living with cancer and trying to raise a family. The stress was slowly lifted, I knew we would be okay. All thanks to these amazing foundations who help people like me live as normal a life as possible and take some of the burden so we can focus on what's important, our health and our family.
Now, I am living my life and seeing what this next chapter holds. I focus daily on what I need to do to keep my body healthy and cancer free. My priorities are to be the best me and be present for my kids at every turn. My kids are age 10 & 12 now and I have the absolute privilege of being by their side for all of their activities and experiences. I'm able to help out around the house more and spend time with my husband and friends when I used to have to put myself to bed because I was just to fatigued to keep my eyes open or move my body. I focus on finding ways to keep my body active and my brain engaged. Before I would laugh about how boring it would be if I didn't have to work. My days are full and I have just as much purpose as I did when I was working full time. My kids and husband are happier and I feel fulfilled. I'm slowly starting to spend some of my time advocating for people like me, living with metastatic cancer.