In April 2024, I received the phone call no one wants to get:
“You have breast cancer.”
The doctor told me the tumor was small—a 6 mm mass. The plan was a lumpectomy, followed by radiation and hormonal therapy. It was overwhelming but clear.
Then my surgeon recommended an MRI, just to be thorough.
That MRI changed everything.
Instead of confirming the original finding, it revealed the tumor wasn’t 6 mm—it was 10 centimeters. That’s almost 17 times bigger. And there was something suspicious on the other breast, which required an ultrasound. Thankfully, that turned out to be a dropped lymph node. But the primary tumor was now too large for a lumpectomy. A single mastectomy was now the recommendation—and it was my choice whether to remove both breasts.
While the doctors laid out the traditional path—surgery, reconstruction, radiation, and long-term drugs—I felt strongly in my spirit that I needed to pause. Pray. Listen.
I wasn’t afraid, and I wasn’t rejecting science. I just knew I needed to follow a holistic path—one that supported my body and spirit. It was a decision not everyone understood, and some voiced their concern. But I followed my conviction, trusting God would lead and heal.
I overhauled my nutrition, implemented numerous holistic therapies, and researched relentlessly the nature of this cancer. Many alternative therapies are not covered by insurance, and I knew I couldn’t afford many of them. I felt pretty alone and on my own at this point. Once I canceled the surgery I was quickly dismissed by the conventional DR’s. I remember praying, “God, I’ll do all that I can do but I need your help to fill in the gaps and make up for what I can’t do”. I also decided that I wouldn’t stress out about all the things that I couldn’t do. If it’s my time to finish this journey on earth then so be it but as long as I’m here and still feel good I want to live well and not be hyper stressed about the situation.
In October, I flew to California for a highly specialized QT scan, a type of breast imaging not widely available. When the results came by email, I read them once, then again:
“We cannot find the masses found on ultrasound and MRI. The US and MRI findings could be false positives. The QT scan does not show any mass that could be biopsied.”
I was stunned. I felt like I was hallucinating. The 10 cm tumor that had changed everything… was gone?
I contacted the doctor for clarification, and he calmly confirmed what I was reading. I was stunned. I immediately felt the presence of God so strongly—this was a miracle.
And then I looked at where the scan center was located: Hamilton Field, a former military base in California.
It stopped me cold. That’s where my father had been stationed during World War II. On December 7, 1941, he was scheduled to fly out to Pearl Harbor—but his plane had mechanical problems. He was grounded. And so, he never flew into the disaster that unfolded that day.
I had just stood on the same ground where my father’s life had once been spared—now mine was, too.
Even more incredible? The breast scan center was located in Hangar 3, one of the very hangars that had once housed the B-17 bombers my dad flew. It was as if God was saying, “I’ve protected your family before, and I’m doing it again.” There’s a verse I clung to throughout this entire journey—Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon formed against you shall prosper”
Fast forward to January 2025. I was driving from Alabama to Texas when an unknown number called me. I picked up but quickly hung up presuming it was a telemarketer. It rang again. This time, I picked up. “Hi, is this Emily? I’m calling from the organization “Cancer Doctor”. You entered a fundraiser with us months ago… and you’ve been selected to receive a $22,000 prize.” I was skeptical. I vaguely remembered entering lots of online giveaways for cancer support—but most required you to be undergoing traditional standard of care treatment in order to qualify. By choosing a holistic path, I often felt left out. When I told them my breast cancer was stage zero, and that I’d also had three different types of skin cancers (also stage zero), I figured they’d change their mind. “Surely someone stage 4 needs this more than I do,” I said.
But they insisted:
“We prayed and asked God to handpick the winner (which was done digitally) and you’ve been selected – you are the winner.”
Even after a three-way call with the CEO, I still wondered if it was a scam. But as the weeks unfolded, I saw it was very real—and a beautiful faith-based organization.
This wasn’t just prize money. It came with a dedicated health advocate who knows my health history, helps with treatment decisions, finds credentialed practitioners and provides support I never expected. It’s how healthcare should be—truly personalized and deeply caring.
Today, I’m working with an integrative oncologist and continuing to build a lifestyle that keeps my immune system strong and cancer unwelcome. I’m doing everything in my power—and trusting God with the rest.
I never imagined a miracle at Hamilton Field. I never imagined being given the funds to pursue healing I couldn’t afford. I never imagined I’d feel stronger now than before the diagnosis.
But that’s what God does.
He surprises us. He sustains us. He surrounds us.
Ephesians 3:20 says “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”
Update July 2026
