Tukesia's Survivor Story (Mississippi)

       I’ll never forget the day it all began. I was on my way to work when I suddenly fell ill. I started bleeding uncontrollably, and deep down, I knew something was terribly wrong. When the doctor finally said the word cancer, it felt like my whole world stopped. My heart broke, and anger filled every part of me. The first person I told was my husband. 

    Treatment was no walk in the park. I went through chemo, radiation, and brachytherapy. The hardest part wasn’t even the physical pain, it was dragging myself to and from those appointments while my body was falling apart. I lost my strength, my income, and almost my peace. Bills piled up. I went broke. My oldest son and the rest of my family had to step in to help keep me afloat.

    But even in the middle of the storm, my prayers and my family gave me strength. Every time I looked at them, I remembered why I had to fight.

      Cancer changed me in ways I can’t explain. It taught me to love myself more....really love myself, not just survive. My faith carried me forward when I couldn’t carry myself. I’ve learned to give myself grace and to embrace the woman I am now, scars and all. 

     Sharing my story isn’t easy, but it’s necessary. I speak out because I don’t want anyone else to suffer in silence the way I did. Cancer is terrible but faith, hope, prayer, and the right treatment can lead to healing.

 In my community, we talk a lot about breast cancer, and we should, but we need to raise awareness about all cancers. Every ribbon matters. Every story matters.

    If you’ve just been diagnosed, I want you to hear this: stay prayed up, keep trusting God, and hang in there. You’re stronger than you think.

     Now, my dream is simple: to live life to the fullest, take nothing for granted, and keep trusting GOD. I want my story to inspire others to listen to their bodies, seek care early, and spread awareness.

  If I could accomplish one big thing, it would be to make sure everyone in my community of the right age gets the HPV vaccine. If we can prevent even one person from walking this path, that’s a victory worth fighting for.

  I feel deeply called to tell my story and to keep advocating for myself and my community, so that other women never have to face the pain and devastation I went through. This is bigger than me now. It’s about healing, awareness, and the power of faith to turn suffering into strength.

My name is Tukesia, and this is my story.