Why We Walk

LUNG FORCE Hero Ashley M.

My name is Ashley. In October 2012, I was an average sophomore attending The Pennsylvania State University. Life was great; I had a wonderful boyfriend, great friends, and I was loving the college life. I had no symptoms of illness, however right around Halloween time (my favorite time of the year!), I sneezed and pulled a muscle in my back. I went the University Health services on campus to get pain medication for a pulled muscle, but a doctor there decided he wanted to be safe and take an X-ray. Next thing I knew, the doctors were sending me to specialists for an unusual "dark spot" on my upper right lobe of my lung. Everything happened so fast from there and next thing I knew I was sent to Hershey Cancer Institute and was diagnosed with stage II non-small cell lung cancer. My family and I were shocked. I have never smoked and I was only 19 years old. It turns out I have a very rare form of lung cancer known as the ALK gene mutation.

My doctors quickly decided on a plan of treatment. In December 2012 I had surgery to have the golf ball sized tumor removed, and they ended up removing 20 percent of my right lung. I followed up with four rounds of chemotherapy, and then nine weeks of radiation therapy for five days per week. While it was difficult, I had a wonderful support system and I was able to get to remission.

Unfortunately, at my three year checkup this past June, and three years of remission, I relapsed and the cancer was found in my lungs, T11 vertebrae, and the left frontal lobe of my brain.

I have had gamma knife radiation therapy to my brain, three rounds of radiation therapy to my spine, and I am currently on an oral chemotherapy pill that is designed for the ALK gene mutation. I am fighting and currently doing well thanks to my wonderful support system.

There is often a stigma with lung cancer. It is considered an "old people disease", or even a smokers disease, but that's not always true. I was 19 when I was diagnosed, and now I am 23 and still battling this awful disease that can affect anyone. The scary thing about lung cancer is that it can go so long without being symptomatic and that is what makes early detection so important. I was feeling great, but little did I know this disease was growing inside of me.

LUNG FORCE Hero Ellen S.

Late in 2013, 930 miles apart, I sat on the other line of a phone call that changed our lives. My mom had just been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that had metastasized to her lymph nodes and adrenal gland. I sat in stunned silence as the doctor gave the prognosis. 6 months. That was it, and I was almost 1000 miles away. I sat there that night, on the phone with her, trying to calm her down, to think positive. We were going to fight.

I came home for the holidays and then moved home permanently shortly after. Two days before I moved home, she took a turn for the worse due to complications from the chemo and landed in the hospital. She went into emergency surgery and remained in a coma. It was the worst time of my life. I sat, every day, in that hospital, watching her slip away from us. When she woke, she didn't recognize my sister and I, nor did she really have any recollection of what had happened. Eventually, she turned around and things felt like normal. We laughed, we cried, we fought over silly things. She moved in with my then fiancé (and now husband) and myself, and we resumed a normal life.

Then one day, it wasn't normal. She went quickly, which when we look back at things, was better than any other alternative. We had gone through that, and it was torture. But knowing that doesn't make it any easier. In the end, she knew we were there, saw a picture of her grandsons, and felt us hold her hand. We had gotten a full year together. There are so many things that she isn't going to be here for - my wedding, watching her grand kids grow up, holding my hand as I give birth, all those things she won't be here for. And every day I wish I had more time. More time to laugh, more time to cry, more time to fight, more time to spend with her, hold her, hug her, kiss her. So that is why I walk. I walk so that, hopefully, one day soon, another family won't have to wish for more time. I walk for KK.

Daphne R.

My name is Daphne. I grew up on the small island of Aunu'u, American Samoa. I remember being a young teenager when my Mom, Meleke, developed an on-going cough. She would sneeze and cough year-round and tell me that it was because of her allergies. As cliché as this sounds, my Mom Meleke is the best Mother anyone can ever ask for. The type of Mother that made you and your other 6 siblings feel like you were the only child. The Mother who was the loudest voice cheering and yelling at you during your sport games. The kind of Mother that made you feel unconditionally loved no matter what.

My Mom visited the doctor on island often to check on her cough. They either told her it was because of her allergies or the weather. This didn't make sense considering we lived on a tropical island with awesome weather all the time.

After 9/11, I made up my mind that I would enlist into the U.S. military and join the fight against terrorism as a United States Marine. Even on a small island, in the middle of nowhere, word of the Marines being the best in America was well-known. This was also my ticket off the small island. In Samoa, kids are either great at football and get a scholarship or join the service. I wasn't very good at football.

About 5 years later (2007), I signed up for the Marines and was a promised a bonus of $3,000. This was the largest amount of money I ever imagined having considered I only made around or about $76 bi-weekly for my full-time job. During Marine Corps boot camp, I wrote a letter to my Mom that read, "Mom, I don't want you to worry about your medical problems. I'll pay for you to see a specialist. After MOS school I'll get that bonus. That's going to you for you to see a specialist okay Mom? As long as I'm in America you'll be taken care of. I love you Mom."

I kept my promise and my Mom went to see a specialist in America for her coughing. You would think that $3,000 would find some answers. My Mom was told that she had a sinus infection and was later told that she had bronchitis. For about 15 years, my Mom was diagnosed with sinus infections, the flu, pneumonia, arthritis, and bronchitis. It was almost as if the doctors didn't know what they were talking about and were going in circles. As if they just wanted to give a different answer every time to seem legitimate. I don't know but if she truly didn't have those illnesses then why would they tell her that?

Finally, in 2014, my Mom told her doctor, "I think I have cancer, please check me for cancer." Her doctor told her that he didn't think she had cancer and that he had already checked her breasts. She insisted and after months of telling her doctor this, she was eventually scheduled for a scan. When the results came in my Mom didn't tell anyone and went alone. I was at work when she called me and told me that she had stage 4 lung cancer. I immediately fell apart and couldn't believe what she just told me. How?! My Mom who never smoked a day in her life. How did she get this?? And at stage 4?? I thought the doctors had been seeing her often? My Mom explained to me that it had metastasized to her spine, thighs, liver... basically everywhere. HOW!!?? How did so many doctors miss this? How does something this horrific creep it's way through a person's entire body before they, themselves have to convince a doctor to scan them for cancer! Is it because the lack of education in this disease? No money for research? Because she's never smoked so she can't get lung cancer?

Lung cancer is the most aggressive disease I have ever witnessed in my entire life. It moves quickly and has absolutely no mercy for anyone or anything. It doesn't care whether you smoke, what air you breathe, your age, gender, race, whether you're rich or poor. I grew up watching my tough Mom dominate in rugby matches, I've watched her climb coconut trees, I watched her stand up when she knew something wasn't right, I learned from this fearless woman my whole life. To see her go through her battle of lung disease was the toughest I've ever seen her. My amazing Mother fought for 2 years before going to heaven on February 26, 2016 at the young age of 57. I was sitting next to her, holding her hand telling her how much I loved her and how much of an amazing Mother she is. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her. I break down and fall apart often because of how much I miss her.

I chose to get involved with LUNG FORCE because I don't want there to be another Meleke or another Daphne. The pain I watched my Mom go through was unbearable.

With all of us uniting, we can defeat this disease. We are a force to reckoned with! But we can't do it alone, this disease is the #1 cancer killer of women and it's time to STOP it now! Please get involved, we need you. Each and every one of you can make a difference. Thank you and Fa'afetai tele lava.

LUNG FORCE Heroes

LUNG FORCE Heroes are patients, caregivers, family, friends and co-workers of those who are impacted by lung cancer. Our Heroes share their powerful journeys - stories which help educate the public about what it’s like to have lung cancer or lung disease. Heroes may also be asked to speak at a LUNG FORCE Run/Walk Kick-off event, Corporate Recruitment event and/or on Run/Walk day.

If you're interested in becoming a LUNG FORCE Hero, please contact Joanna Kim for more information. And, we invite you to Share Your Voice on our website and read about other Heroes' experiences too. Everyone’s story is unique, and we appreciate you getting involved and becoming a LUNG FORCE Hero!