My sister’s journey started in 2023, and in 2025, she is still battling this disease. What began as digestive issues was initially believed to be gallstones by one hospital, but another ultimately diagnosed it as cancer. It was first identified as ampullary cancer, and in January 2024, she underwent the Whipple procedure. When the pathology results came back, she was diagnosed with stage 2/3 pancreatic cancer, which had spread to 13 of her lymph nodes despite the Whipple being effective.

She completed 12 sessions of chemotherapy in August 2024. Still, despite not feeling right, she didn’t want to complain. She went back to the doctors, and after more scans and tests, they confirmed that cancer was still present. After months of going back and forth to the hospital, her oncologist restaged her cancer to stage 4, as it had spread to the lining of her stomach. She is now receiving chemotherapy every other week with no end date in sight.

Last year, she was able to walk the PurpleStride, and though this year we may have to push her in a wheelchair, I’m more than happy to do it. She has severe neuropathy in her hands and feet from the chemo and struggles with very low energy. I pray for better days ahead, and hopefully, by April, she will be able to walk the walk.

Please keep her and her family in your prayers, and we hope to see everyone at the Pittsburgh PurpleStride!