How I Tried to Stay Strong

Survivor Stories – Marissa’s Journey

Cancer changes your life in ways that people often don’t see. In this episode of Unfiltered Healing: Real Talk on Life, Love & Survival, Jessica sits down with fellow cancer survivor Marissa for an honest conversation about diagnosis, treatment, fear, resilience, and what life looks like after hearing the words, “You have cancer.” Together, they discuss the emotional highs and lows of survivorship, the challenges that continue long after treatment ends, and the importance of finding hope—even on the hardest days. This isn’t a polished version of survivorship; it’s a real conversation about healing, strength, and learning to move forward one day at a time. Whether you’re navigating your own cancer journey, supporting someone you love, or simply want to better understand the realities of survivorship, this episode is a reminder that you are never alone. Thank you, Marissa, for courageously sharing your story and helping others find hope through your experiences. If this episode touched your heart, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need to hear it.

Being a Mom While Fighting Cancer

Cancer may have changed everything, but it didn’t stop me from being a mom. In this episode, I talk about trying to stay present for my boys and how motherhood gave me purpose while I was fighting to survive.

How I Tried to Stay Strong

During chemo, I created routines to make myself feel stronger; water, walking, makeup, movement. In this episode, I share how I fought to keep a sense of control when everything in me felt powerless.

Watching Cancer Through Other People’s Eyes

This week’s episode is about the people we meet in the middle of our hardest battles and the unexpected ways they change us.

Not Recognizing the Woman in the Mirror

Chemo didn’t just make me sick, it changed the way I saw myself. In this episode, I talk about losing my hair, my eyebrows, my lashes, and the struggle of not recognizing the woman staring back at me.