Donna’s life is a tapestry of accomplishments: a thriving real estate career, a beautiful 23-year marriage to Ron, five talented children, and a heart full of gratitude. These joys bring a blush to her cheeks and a glow to her voice. They are the foundation of her strength—especially when the word cancer entered her life.

But even more powerful than these milestones is Donna herself—strong, fierce, and unyielding.

1996 The First Battle — Microcalcifications appear as small white spots. The spots may be randomly scattered, or they may appear in groups or as specks in a line. Microcalcifications can be benign, but they’re more likely to signify cancer.

All words Donna didn’t want to hear.

Donna was set to have a lumpectomy to remove the tumor and a margin of tissue surrounding the tumor. Fear was present, but fierceness prevailed.

When her California surgeon casually remarked, “It’s no big deal, it’s just a lumpectomy,” Donna sat up in her hospital bed, long blond hair flowing, and set the record straight.

“How dare you”, I told him. “Do you know what society sees in women? Our hair, our breasts, our curves. You’re not just taking a lump—you’re taking a piece of me. Then chemo will take my hair. Would you speak this way to a man if you were taking a piece of his manhood? Don’t ever say just again.”

That moment defined Donna’s resolve.

The body healed and life began anew. Years passed, careers were coming to a close, and Donna and her husband vacationed over many years in a ‘Halmark movie town from the 1950s’ – aka McMinnville Oregon. Eventually when retirement came, they made McMinnville their home. For over five years now, Donna has lived in this charming town, surrounded by beauty, festivities, and the warmth of community.

2023 – The Second Battle — Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive type of invasive breast cancer and refers to the fact that the cancer cells don’t have estrogen or progesterone receptors and doesn’t have much of the HER2 protein thus making it harder to treat. Chemotherapy is often recommended after surgery to reduce the chances of cancer coming back. 

Donna faced a double mastectomy and 16 weeks of chemotherapy.

After Donna and her husband made the critical healthcare decisions together, the next step was even harder—calling her children. She braced herself, knowing the weight of her words. When her son Chris heard the news, he didn’t hesitate. He turned to his siblings, who lived far and wide, and declared, “Mom will never be alone.”

Donna’s eyes moistened as she recalled that moment. Her voice softened and cracked just slightly as she said, “And I never was.”

Her children came—each taking shifts, each standing by her side. For more than four months, through surgery, every treatment, and every trial, they were there. Her husband, Ron was there too, through sickness and health, they stood together—a united front of love, strength, and unwavering support.

Today, Donna sits across from me, radiant and full of life. She is gorgeous. Her silver pixie cut shines, her smile is stunning, and her pride in her family is fragrant as a garden in full bloom after summer rain—rich with warmth, memory, and the strength of love that lingers in the air. Cancer may have taken a part of her body, but it never touched her spirit.

Now, in her new town, through her work with Soroptimist International and With Courage, Donna has risen like a phoenix—reborn, resilient, and ready to inspire.