As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, First News shares a story of resilience and hope: a Canfield woman facing breast cancer is determined not to let it hinder her dream of becoming a mother.
Jessica Miller’s path towards realizing her dream received a boost thanks to a foundation established in memory of an Ohio woman who lost her battle with cancer.
Miller’s journey commenced with a sharp pain near her heart and the discovery of a lump in her breast. Following a doctor’s visit and a mammogram, she received a breast cancer diagnosis.
“They told me that I needed to have a double mastectomy, as well as chemotherapy,” Miller recounted.
Knowing that these treatments could jeopardize her chances of having children, Miller sought alternative options. She discovered a specialist in breast cryoablation, a procedure that freezes eligible breast tumors, offering her an alternative path to fight her cancer while preserving her dream of motherhood.
The 39-year-old says she was confused when she got the cancer diagnosis.
“I was in complete despair. I felt hopeless. I went a little crazy and screamed,” Miller said. “I got mad. I didn’t know what to do.” As Breast Cancer
After determining her treatment plan, the next giant Miller had to face was fear.
One of her inspirations was Jane “Nightbirde” Marczewski, an Ohio native who was on America’s Got Talent before passing away from cancer at age 31 last year.
“She just kept on pushing through, no matter the odds, and she was incredibly inspiring,” Miller said. “Just full of love, life, passion, faith and hope.”
Now, there’s the Nightbirde Foundation in Marczewski’s name that partners with women battling cancer to give them hope and healing.
After learning about the foundation, Miller wrote them letters. Then, Marczewski’s brother Mitch called her and met her in Canfield.
“He donated $5,000 to my cancer treatment, toward the cryoablation, and he also challenged me to raise $10,000 more and the foundation would double it.”