Hi, I’m Stacie Fajardo. I am a wife, a mom of 4, a mathematician, and a swimmer. I love my people more than anything in the whole world and love spending quality time with them. I love a good adventure, and will do almost anything to make people laugh.
Just a few months ago, I had a really scary day. I went to get a lump checked with a mammogram and a follow up ultrasound. At check-in, they were chipper while giving me instructions. Then the first images weren’t enough, they needed me to come back for some more. Then the ultrasound took much longer than anyone thought.
And every tech’s face got a little bit more and more serious.
By the time the radiologist came in to talk about my images with me, I knew there was something very wrong. She asked if I was available later that afternoon for a biopsy, and then again in two days for a different biopsy at a surgeon’s office. I said “if I’m reading the room correctly, I need to be available at those times for those things. Am I reading this situation correctly?”. She said, with some sadness, a simple “yes”. And that’s when I finally let myself cry.
I cried because I’ve had so many lumps in my body before, but never one that made doctors scared. I’ve always joked that some people grow tall, I just grow lumpy! But this one was urgent.
She took 11 biopsies that day, and all 11 came back positive for breast cancer. Grade 3 triple positive ductal carcinoma. A very aggressive form of breast cancer that had already spread to my lymph nodes.
So, I did what I do best. I got organized. I scheduled every appointment, did every scan, checked every box. You see, I love getting good grades and blue ribbons. I’m highly competitive, and also an incurable optimist. I can’t help but notice all of the tiny miracles happening all around me while I go through all of this. Yes, they found cancer. But it happens to be one of the most curable cancers out there! Sure, I have to do chemo instead of doing all the fun summer things I love. But this summer my kids have learned how many people we have around us that love us.
My friends and family have shown up in force. On my good days, they invite me to swim with them, go on the river with them, or go paddleboarding with them. And on my bad days they take my kids to do all those fun things while I get a much needed nap.
I am so grateful for my people. It’s their support that turned that scary day into a time in my life where I’ve never felt more loved.
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