How Late Stage Breast Cancer Survivor Turns Diagnosis Into Purpose
After only 4 years of losing her late husband and unborn baby to pancreatic cancer, Donyel was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer. Donyel started sharing her cancer journey on Instagram and Facebook after being diagnosed in December 7, 2017 the exact day she lost her late-husband in 2013.
“Aspired to inspire others by taking them along with me on my cancer journey” “sometimes putting a face to cancer helps others just like me know that they’re not alone”.
Today I’m not only fighting my own cancer, but officially started PwP to Support other cancer Warriors in their fight. Donyel struggled with starting another business because she founded the @thesejf after losing her late husband to pancreatic cancer, she vowed to help other families in her community by bringing awareness to the horrific diseases, unlike other cancer it’s the deadliest among African American and the least talked about.
Donyel further explains, running a nonprofit and being a minority isn’t for everyone, if your passion for why you started doesn’t keep a hot flame under your butt, you won’t succeed. “I’ve ran my organization for the past 7 years because of the hurt I felt when I lost my husband and the realization that we wouldn’t be able to ever try again for another baby absolutely keeps me on my toes to help spread the awareness amongst underprivileged communities and the people who looks like me that may not have no idea like myself that this silent killer exist.” @thesejf is 100% volunteer ran and boot strapped by myself. I’ve tried getting funding and support, it’s not that easy and I don’t have the patience or time to convenience people to fund the programs while people who truly need wait. One thing about being a minority that comes from a large family with little to no resources, you learn quickly how to stretch little, make large sacrifices and make a way out of no way. I began buying pallets of open box and overstock and having some donated just to continue our totes of hope and community outreach programs.
The Pink Warrior Project @pinkwarriorproject was curated in 2019 to help me with my cancer bills and expenses that my insurance doesn’t cover. Always looking for ways and helping other patients while in the hospital I decided that 10% of all net proceeds would go towards forming a private cancer support community that would be absolutely free to women that’s in the fight to provide encouragement, support and other resources that they could tap into.
I know all too well the impact that cancer takes not only on the patient but the entire family from emotional, financial, physical and psychological. I’ve witnessed too many times when I was admitted into the hospital weekly for chemo, and then everyday for radiation too many people by themselves, I was silently heartbroken because I couldn’t imagine not having my family’s support during this difficult time. My main objective I want cancer Warriors to know is that they’re not alone and that they’re so many organizations and people cheering them on!
PWP private community will be group of Warriors, from all ages and stages, coming together to support one another through the journey of cancer.
I need Survivors and families, like me, whom cancer has impacted and want to pay it forward and give back to help me build this community where it’s safe for cancer patients, caregivers and their families to ask questions, get tips and advice that they may not know to ask, resources they may not know exists and expert advice from practitioners. I want to help those whom are struggling to fight cancer because of all of the urgent decisions, the processing of everything mentally, feeling like you’re in a snow-globe and someone just shook it up with you in it, and the toll it’s not only going to take on your body but the entire family, I’m here! Donyel needs your support to help her curate this community the way she envisions by buying a t-shirt/sweatshirt or anything on the website you will be Joining THE FIGHT! Thank you for your kind and generous support!
Sometimes our biggest heroes are right in our communities and no one probably don’t even know their names, But their work speaks volumes. Donyel has been recognized by the city of New Orleans city council and spoke on panels for both breast cancer awareness and pancreatic cancer awareness, just to mention a few. Donyel reminds herself that her purpose is bigger than the pain she faces daily and that if she’s helping others her pain is worth it.
