Everyone goes through tough periods in their life, but some are harder than others. These high school sweethearts understand this well. Still, through life’s ups and downs, they’ve found strength and hope in each other, their loved ones, and their faith. Now, they’re sharing their story online to help others.
As soon as Chelsea married her husband in 2017, baby fever kicked into high gear — but they knew they wanted to wait until a year of marriage to have kids, so they got a dog, named Gracie, instead. This sweet pup, and visits from friends with kids, helped a lot. Soon enough, it was time for them to start trying for their own family!
But months of trying quickly turned into years. By 2020, they were in search of a fertility specialist. But because of the pandemic, they couldn’t find any that were taking new patients until 2021.
At that point, it was confirmed they had infertility issues, and lots of tests were done to figure out why. Then, in May 2022, Chelsea finally got more answers.
She was diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis. This wasn’t easy to learn, but with answers, they were able to come up with a new plan: After surgery and time on medication, they would be able to try once more for kids.
Things looked hopeful after three medicated cycles, but when their attempts ultimately failed, they took a break for a few months.
Then, in July 2023, the couple received more devastating news. Chelsea had stage 1 breast cancer. Just a month later, she had a lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed. Still, she came back positive for cancer, changing her to stage 2, grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma.
She began chemotherapy in September and, since then, has undergone two rounds. After just 15 days, Chelsea’s hair started to fall out, so she shaved it — and her husband joined her in solidarity.
Since sharing her journey online, Chelsea has caught the attention of countless folks around the world. Part of the reason is because, despite all she’s been through, she’s been able to keep a smile on her face. This resilience is why Chelsea shares her story — to give others hope.
So, even though Chelsea’s journey to becoming cancer-free, and a mom, is still ongoing, her experience serves as a reminder that it is possible to find joy, even in the darkest of times.
“[I] have a few more fusions then I start radiation!” Chelsea wrote in a TikTok post. “Then we will pray about babies again. If it’s not in the cards for us we will look into adoption.”
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here!
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