Hi, for those of you who may not know me or my story, I wanted to start by introducing myself. I’m Emily. My husband, Kyle, and I have been together for over 21 years. I’m a very busy RN consultant, wife, and mother to our 10-year-old twin girls, Allison and Hazel. We also have two dogs, chickens, a turtle, and a love for horses. Over the years, we’ve been through many job transitions, home remodels, and countless busy activities with the girls, which now mostly bring us to the barn, where we love riding horses and being around animals. On 2/14/2026, I was getting ready for bed when I happened to feel a lump in my right breast while changing. I had never done a self-exam before and wasn’t trying to do one at the time, so it felt strange that I noticed it. I was due for a mammogram, so that Monday I called and scheduled one for a couple of weeks out. Later that same week, I got sick again with a viral cold and cough and went to urgent care to rule out influenza. I almost didn’t mention the lump, but as the provider was wrapping up, they asked one more time if there was anything else I needed. I brought up the lump, and the provider had me get back on the exam table to do an exam. They agreed it was suspicious and immediately called to change my screening mammogram to a diagnostic mammogram, moving my appointment up to 3/5/2026. My mammogram and ultrasounds showed grouped fine pleomorphic calcifications that were considered suspicious, and they recommended a stereotactic biopsy to rule out cancer. They made it sound like the chances of cancer were low, but without the biopsy, we would never know for sure. I agreed to the biopsy, but they couldn’t get me in until 4/9/2026. On Monday, 4/13/2026, I received the biopsy results: invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 3 of 3, along with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), nuclear grade 3 of 3 with associated calcifications. The cancer was HER2 positive, HR negative (-,-), and Ki-67 positive. At the time of the biopsy, the suspicious area measured less than 1.6 cm. What this meant ... I have breast cancer! Two days later, I met with a surgical oncologist. At that appointment, I was told that the tumor had already grown to about the size of a golf ball, meaning I would need chemotherapy before undergoing a double mastectomy. He ordered a breast MRI and was able to get me in that Friday. The MRI confirmed the tumor had grown to 5.4 cm and also showed concerning signs that the cancer had spread to my right lymph nodes. The following Wednesday, 4/22/2026, I met with a medical oncologist and learned that I would need 18 rounds of chemotherapy before a bilateral mastectomy sometime in the fall. Chemotherapy would begin on 4/29/2026. In the meantime, my surgeon ordered a biopsy of the lymph nodes and got me in right away. On my birthday, 4/28/2026, I received the results that my lymph nodes were positive for invasive carcinoma. Terrible birthday present! A few days later, I was scheduled for a PET scan. Thankfully, the results brought some positive news — the cancer had not spread beyond the primary tumor and the nearby lymph nodes. At that point, they were able to officially diagnose me with Stage 3 breast cancer. In my 20’s, I was diagnosed with MS, so over the last 20+ years my medical team has worked carefully to try all different types of treatments and infusions. My care team has now expanded greatly, and they are working together to make sure that the medications that I will receive don’t complicate or worsen my MS symptoms and are the best options to quickly and effectively fight the cancer. As if things couldn’t get any crazier, our dishwasher decided to leak, which unexpectedly turned into a kitchen remodel after an inspection detected asbestos in the original flooring underneath it. Our busy family had to temporarily evacuate our home and move into a hotel, while the dogs are staying at doggy daycare until it is safe for ME, Kyle, the girls, and the dogs to return home. I am now at a place I never imagined I would be. I have never been someone who asks for help, but as the last 4 weeks of chemotherapy are starting to take a toll on my health and energy I am realizing I might need help. We wanted to create a place where we can share updates, post schedule for when we may need help with the girls or if I need a companion to help get me to appointments and communicate any other needs our family may have in the coming months. We are incredibly grateful for all of the love, support, prayers, and encouragement we have already received. It truly means more than we can put into words.