Kenya Young

My name is Keya. What an honor to share my story with you. My prayer is that somewhere along the line of my story, you will feel hope and strength.

They say time flies when you are having fun. I would like to say time has flown because my life has been a blast, full of laughter and health, yet looking back it is hard to believe that five years ago, my life was drastically changed forever because of that moment where time stood still and life seemed hopeless.

Cancer doesn’t care what color or creed you are or that you really don’t have time for this horrible disease. Breast cancer is no respecter of persons. Here I was at the age of 32 and a mother of three, diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. Despite it being stage 2, it was already grade 3; which meant it was a very angry, very mean, and a very aggressive cancer. Was I frightened? Not nearly as much as I was angry. For me, it was all in the attitude, and still is. My friends can vouch for that. The words “you have cancer” are words no one wants to hear.

My life, which seemed so young and fresh with so much ahead, suddenly seemed dark and hopeless. And here in that moment, a new me emerged. I was a fighter and was not ready to leave this world. I was not ready to leave my kids and my family behind. My purpose on Earth was not fulfilled, and I was ready to put my boxing gloves on and fight this horrible disease.

I immediately had a double mastectomy and six tough months of chemotherapy.

I kept regurgitating and had to hold on to anything in sight just to make it to my destination. As if the throwing up and exhaustion isn’t enough, then my hair says “I’m leaving you, too.” I am stubborn and I am strong. Cancer was not going to take that away from me.

My motto was, ‘I’ll take this bull by the horns.’ Yes, it might throw me around a bit and knock me to the floor every once in a while, but, after everything is all said and done, I will be the one left standing. The strongest tool I found in my cancer battle was the will to live, the will to love, the will to believe. You either have to choose faith in yourself and push through or choose fear and allow it to control your situation. I’m so glad that I chose faith.