💕Here to Show Alicia How Strong Her Village Is! 💕 Let’s wrap Alicia and her family in love and support as they face this difficult chapter together. You can help by making a meal, sending a gift card, or simply sharing a kind message or prayer — every gesture makes a difference. Alicia’s surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, October 28th. She’s the kind of person who’s always there for others — offering help, encouragement, and love without hesitation. But now, she’s the one who needs her village to lift her up. Alicia's husband, Anthony, and their children have been incredibly strong and supportive throughout her journey. With two children away at college — Dynasty, finishing her senior year at Iowa State, and Lil Anthony, starting his first year at Ellsworth — this journey has taken an additional emotional toll. At home, Alicia is doing her best to stay strong for Amayah and Adrian, even as she faces the unknowns ahead. She is currently out of work to prepare for surgery, uncertain if radiation or chemotherapy will be needed or what the next steps will look like. Through it all, Alicia and Anthony’s main goal is to keep life as normal as possible for the kids — keeping them in their activities, maintaining routines, and keeping their spirits high. The emotional and mental strain of a medical journey like this can be just as heavy as the financial one they are experiencing. Now it’s our turn to show up for the family that’s always shown up for everyone else — to remind them how strong, loving, and generous their village truly is. 💛💕💪💗 #AllinforAlicia Words from Alicia 10/23/25: The Start of My Journey: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma -Grade 3. Breast Cancer Awareness Month & well My first Mammogram was 10/3/25. I received a call from RCI on 10/7 asking me to come back in. I tried to wait until that Friday but they requested I return on 10/8, so I scheduled over my lunch hour. I received a diagnostic mammogram and then an ultrasound, radiologist came in and stated needed to do a biopsy and he needed to do it now. There was a mass on the left breast that was concerning to him.There wasnt really an option to wait so biopsy was complete. Then another Mammogram to view the marker. I was not expecting any of this! Friday came and I recieved a call from Dr Burke as my pathology results were in, I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma -Grade 3, which makes it aggressive.Breast and Bone called about an hour later and requested that I come in to meet with cancer coordinator. 10/10/25 was an unexpected day! We met with Mona that afternoon and met my oncologist social worker. Mona had already scheduled my appointments to meet with my oncologist and surgeon prior to my arrival. As the weekend past my final pathology results came in Monday 10/13. Mona called and shared that my estrogen and progesterone receptors were positive,HER-2 negative, KI-67 index of 57%. My mind has been overwhelmed. My emotions are all over. We met with Dr Buntinas-oncologist Friday 10/17 which decided I need surgery first. Tuesday 10/21 we met with Dr Bors -surgeon and also stated this mass needed to come out as she is concerned on the size of mass and the amount of tissue she is removing. Her nurse came back and said surgery is 10/28. Wow a week away! I was sent back over to my social worker who drew up my advanced directives and living will. We then met with the genetics team which tests are being ran stat so results can be in prior to surgery incase plan needs to change. On top of all this my nexplanon since it has hormones is feeding my cancer and has to be removed this week prior to surgery. I have 2 appointments left this week to prepare me for surgery on Tuesday. Everything is happening so fast its hard to process it all. Once surgery is complete and more tests are ran on my tissue, they will be able to create a plan of treatment and determine my stage. Im stuck in the unknown still and its moving quickly. I know I have a great care team with me to make it through. First Mammogram ever, diagnosed with breast cancer and having a lumbectomy all in the same month!