My name is Shannon, but my husband calls me “Mimzy”. I am 34, married and have a daughter that is 6 years old. I hadn’t been feeling well in at the end of June of 2014 and went to the doctor for a blood test the following month. He found elevated liver enzymes and requested a CT scan. That same afternoon he called us in and told me they happened to find a mass on my left breast and metastatic spots on my liver and bones. A week later I was diagnosed officially with stage IV invasive ductile carcinoma, estrogen positive, progesterone positive and HER2 positive. The doctors are certain which therapies my cancer will respond to and are positive that they can put the cancer into remission. For each treatment and cancer appointment, I have worn a Beatles shirt. They are shirts I have owned or that have been given to me. At the end of the journey, I will turn all my shirts into a victory banner quilt. I have completed 10 rounds of radiation and will begin my first round of chemo on Aug 29th. I have maintained a warrior-mentality. I have bad days, but then I pick myself up and remind myself why I must fight and press on. My faith sustains and grants me grace to fight. I am so thankful for the family and friends have joined TEAM MIMZY. I had gone recently to a family reunion and my family members were all wearing “team mimzy” shirts. It is so encouraging to have the strength of others to draw from when you are running low some days. My favorite quote for my battle is: “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” –Jimmy Valvano.

Shannon Lewis
Erie, PA