Cancer Sucks Coastal Bend women for a cure
Photos by: Ashlee Struchens
We did this shoot to represent some local Coastal Bend
Women going through this terrible disease and that deal with
stories with you to hopefully help others that may be dealing
with Cancer also and let you know you are not alone. Cancer
takes so much from so many people and is so heartbreaking.
I knew a few of these women before the shoot but with it
You would expect these women to be upset, sad, down on life
but they are anything but that. This is the most amazing group
of women I have ever come across… so full of life and so happy
to be together and share themselves and their stories. This
been a part of and it came from such a tragic experience for all
of these women.
STEPHANIE SASSER
I remember the night as if it were
yesterday. On March 22, 2017, I found
2 lumps while simply shaving my
underarms. I knew something was
son to daycare and went straight to my
exam. By the look he gave me I knew it
mammogram and biopsies on the “worrisome” areas.
Everything went by so fast from there. Monday, I had an
appointment to get a mammogram and biopsies on the 2 lumps.
March 28, I got the call, and I just fell to my knees as I, at the age
of just 30 years old, was told I have Breast Cancer. All I could think
about was my son and what life would have to be like for him
without his mom. Fast forward, I have Stage 2b Breast Cancer. I
immediately had to start one of the scariest processes,
sleeping long hours, bone pain and, one of the worst, 2 weeks
ahead and have a double mastectomy. So, August 17 came
anesthesiologist to come give me the rundown. I went in for the
surgery but don’t remember coming out. The pain was horrible
and the drainage awful. I spent the whole weekend in the hospital
said they found cancer behind my chest plate, and now my cancer
had been upgraded to stage 3c. I was now in shock.
During my recovery, my ex-husband and I grew closer
together. It was the best thing for my health, and I couldn’t be
happier that at this point we packed up all my things and moved
husband.