Heading Into the New Year: What This Year Taught Me About Advocacy, Care, and Speaking 💭

As this year comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the last 12 months of my personal life.

A lot of it was heavy.

A lot of it required honesty — even when I didn’t feel ready for it.

If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s this:life doesn’t wait for us to feel ready.

A Year That Didn’t Pause ⏳

This year, my husband Louis faced a cancer recurrence while I was dealing with my own cancer scare.

There was no pause button.No moment where life slowed down so we could catch our breath.

We just kept moving — appointments, scans, and long stretches of waiting for answers — together.

What Strength Really Looked Like 💪

I learned that strength isn’t loud.

Strength looked like getting through normal days while quietly carrying fear.

It looked like keeping life steady at home while we were both facing serious health concerns.It looked like showing up — even on days we felt worn down and tired..

Why Asking Questions Matters 🗣️

This year also reminded me how much asking questions matters.

After ongoing issues with communication and trial scheduling around my care, I spoke up. That wasn’t easy — but it mattered.

The care team listened.Follow-through improved.And hopefully, changes are being made that will help future patients — not just me.

It reinforced something I believe deeply:speaking up doesn’t make you difficult. It makes care better.

Rest Is Not Quitting 🌿

At the same time, I learned another important lesson:rest is not quitting.

I took a hard look at my advocacy work and made changes for balance.

I didn’t walk away — I chose to protect my health so I can keep going in a way that lasts.

You Can’t Do This Alone 🤍

Once again, I was reminded that you can’t do this alone.

This year, I leaned on my mentors (you know who you are) — for advice, support, and opening doors I didn’t even know to knock on. …and on my family for strength, patience, love, and support — and for the quiet encouragement that kept me focused on what matters most.

What I’m Choosing Moving Forward ✨

Heading into the new year, I’m not chasing perfection.

I’m choosing honesty.

I’m choosing balance.

I’m choosing what actually matters.

If you’re ending this year changed by things you never expected — you’re not alone.

My Focus for the New Year 🎯

Through Heart2Heart Talk, I’ll keep having honest conversations about what patients and caregivers really experience — the parts of healthcare that don’t always get talked about, but deeply shape our lives.

Those conversations don’t stop with the podcast.They flow directly into the work I’m building through HeartBridge Collective.

What HeartBridge Collective Is About 🌉

HeartBridge Collective is where stories turn into support and action.

It’s a place where:

• patients can talk to someone who’s already walked the road and hear, “I’ve been there — here’s what helped me”

• caregivers get real tools and guidance — not just encouragement

• patients navigating clinical trials find connection when the process feels overwhelming

• lived experience helps shape research and how trials are designed

Looking Ahead 🔭

Next year, my focus is on taking this work even further:

• growing the mentor network

• bringing patient voices closer to the engineers building these therapies

• expanding patient education tools that make this journey less confusing and less scary

If I can move these things forward, then every hard moment I lived through has a bigger purpose.

And that’s the vision I’m walking toward.

Going into the new year, I hope you’re surrounded by people who listen, show up, and encourage you to speak up when something doesn’t sit right.

HeartBridge Collective~ ❤️‍🩹 Bridging hearts, minds, and innovation — one lived experience at a time. ❤️‍🩹

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