This cause is deeply important to me. 

June 2022 changed my life, hearing the words “you have cancer” and the journey getting to hear your diagnosis. 

During  a yearly vacation for weekend at the beach that my husband Rene and I had been going to for over 20 years, same weekend same hotel, even the same room right on the beach, different friends and family joined us over the years. It was just a great time to relax and enjoy the beach. This trip was a little different. We got to the beach and I just didn’t feel right but always felt like the beach would recentered me and I would feel better but I didn’t. I could really say is that, I felt like my organs didn’t feel right, like they did fit in my body. 

I had the previous started to walk, the pandemic pushed me into it. I worked retail and we closed down for about 8 weeks. I was bored and said I have time to go for walks and I did, posted on social media, friend and family joined me, asked my team to send me the song that motivates them and create a list on Spotify and it felt like my team was with me on the walks. Cooked at home cause we had to and I love cooking. This help me to loss over 100 pounds and why I felt my organs didn’t fit in my body. 

So after the weekend on the way home we contacted our primary doctor and said we needed to see him the next day or we’re going to the ER. We met with him right when his office open and the journey began. 

All types of tests were being done that day, we didn’t get an answer except I was not a diabetic, and I replied to the Dr, “well (insert my favorite cuss word) I better gain the 100 pounds back since I did have diabetes before. He response was “please don’t” 

Many test were done like sonograms, CT Scan, mammograms MRI blood test, etc. I remember while I was getting my sonogram I was told it should be about 30 minutes, as I am having the test, another tech came in and it was a little over an hour, they finish and I go back to work, jump on a conference call, ready to keep focused on my store and team. 

My cell phone has a call and it’s my Drs office asking me to come in and I’m like ok, text my boss inform her, call my husband. The office has called him already and said to come to the office. When we got to the office, I was the only patient. The Dr came in the room, to say they find there is a mass in my pancreas, I thought he was going to say you have a hernia…NOPE. I asked is it cancer, he said we need more tests.

It was a lot to process and more test. After going through more of the same test and making an appointment with the oncologist, I drove down to Miami on a Friday to tell my mom and brother what was going on, we didn’t have a final diagnosis but the words of cancer were there. 

Came home the next day and shared the news with friends and family. Monday, I worked my last day at my job, had a huge visit, got to spend time and say bye to my work family- my team. But I let them know I will be back because I am going to fight with all I have. 

I started my first round of chemotherapy and  we interview many oncologists to find the right Dr that was going to fight with me. Now it’s 2025, I beat the odds, that I was told, go home and make your bucket list, you have maybe 3 months- no you don’t know this girl, I am going to fight. I am thankful for my mom, brothers, husband and the tribe of people that support love and keep me in their prayers. 

It’s 2025, I have had many bumps on my journey, I still have stage 4 pancreatic cancer, gone through 3 different types of chemotherapy, a clinical trial, histotripsy on my liver, times of growth of tumors and tumors that have gone away and I am still fighting.

This year I want to ask each of you to make a donation for the PanCan Walk, join the team and help us raise money, the answer is out there we need the research to continue,  more trials to saves lives earlier, and FIGHT this battle- cancer.

Our fundraising helps those affected by pancreatic cancer receive free, personalized support through PanCAN Patient Services, giving people the resources and information they desperately need. You also fuel critical research on early detection and much-needed new treatments.

So, on Saturday, April 26, 2025, join me in taking steps with survivors, families, caregivers, friends, physicians and researchers to raise funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer. It’s a day filled with fun, hope and inspiration.

Joining my team is easy. Go to purplestride.org, click Register, and look for [Team Name]. I’ll be with you every step of the way, from reaching your fundraising goal to having a blast on event day.

If you can’t join my team, you can still support me by making a donation toward my personal fundraising goal.

Thank you for helping those affected by pancreatic cancer!


Thank you for being a part of my tribe and your support for this walk this year, every dollar counts.


Love you all, Diana