My Story as a Survivor
Greetings, my name is Katrina, and I’m the team captain of Wings of Faith – Team Katrina, a team I formed in 2024 for the More Than Pink Walk, starting with 20-walkers and in 2025 our team more than doubled to 43 members, raising over $8,500. This year, our team goal is $10,000 as my team and I are dedicated to Komen’s mission of ending breast cancer forever.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today in support of our fundraising efforts to help find a cure for this horrible disease.
My Story - In late August of 2024, I went in for my annual routine mammogram, something I had faithfully done for years. At the time, I had no reason to believe that this appointment would be any different from the many before it. I certainly had no idea that this routine screening would set me on a journey that would change my life forever.
What started as a routine mammogram soon became a series of increasingly serious follow-ups: two additional mammogram screenings, an ultrasound, a biopsy, and an MRI. Then came a Friday late afternoon phone call that would change everything. It was early September, and I had about 15 minutes left in my workday when my phone rang. I answered and heard my doctor’s voice. She didn’t sound like her usual bubbly self. “Hi, Katrina. It’s Dr. D. I’m calling with the results from your tests. I’m so sorry, your tests came back positive for breast cancer.” Calmly and composed, I thanked her for calling and wished her a nice weekend. I hung up the phone, I finished those last few minutes of my workday and continued with my evening as though I had not just been told that I had breast cancer.
I went to bed, and around 3:00 a.m., I woke up and stood in front of the mirror, somewhat confused. I asked myself:
* Did my doctor really say that I have breast cancer?
* Was it just a bad dream?
* Could she have made a mistake?
* Was there a misdiagnosis?
* Could she have read someone else’s results?
There were so many questions. But strangely, I never panicked and I wasn’t afraid. For most people, the word “cancer” can be scary and we instantly think, death sentence. But for me, something very different happened. I was calm, completely opposite of what I thought my reaction would or could have been. Then I suddenly told myself, “STOP IT!” Why was I questioning the results? I simply couldn’t understand how I could be so calm after receiving what most would consider devastating news. And then I realized why. Standing there in front of that mirror, I told myself, “You heard the doctor correctly, now go back to bed.” I didn’t react with fear because, in that moment, I immediately leaned on my FAITH.
My faith never wavered. I never doubted that God was in control and that He had me. At that time, I didn’t know the stage or grade of my cancer. I didn’t know what the road ahead would look like. I had difficulties along the way, but I'm alive. I was certain of one thing, That I was not walking that road alone.
The inspiration for our team name - Wings of Faith came from my five days of hummingbirds experience starting with an experience I had on the very day I was preparing to head out for my biopsy appointment. As I was locking all the doors, I happen to look outside of my patio door and I saw a tiny hummingbird on my patio floor. He was lifeless, unresponsive and tangled in spider webs and debris lying on his side, but I could see that he was still breathing. I gently began pulling the webs and debris away from his tiny body. When I finally uncovered his eyes, he began to blink. I didn’t want to leave him outside in the heat, so I carefully placed him in a little box and took him with me to my appointment. While driving, then waiting to be called back, I began gently stroking his tiny head and body, saying aloud, “You’re going to be alright.” Those words were meant for him, but in many ways, they became words I needed to hear myself. Shortly after my biopsy, I was walking toward my car when I heard fluttering and movement coming from the box, I opened it, and that little hummingbird instantly flew away. I cheered as though I had just won the lottery! In that moment, I knew that I had just witnessed a miracle. And I thought to myself: If I could have faith for that tiny hummingbird, surely I could have faith for myself. That moment became the inspiration behind Wings of Faith.
Today, I am a breast cancer SURVIVOR, it will soon be two years since that life-changing diagnosis. Throughout this journey, I have been blessed with opportunities to share my testimony at churches, health fairs, with News 8, and on the podcast Spotlight on San Diego and now with each of you. I want to continue sharing my story, not just to tell people what I went through, but to hopefully help save someone’s life and offer a word of encouragement and hope. If there is one message, I want every woman and even man, to take away from my story, is this: Know your body! Pay attention when something doesn’t feel right. Talk to your doctor and most importantly, GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM! Please don’t put it off.
Although October is recognized as "Breast Cancer Month" Breast cancer affects and claims lives year-round. Don’t assume that because you feel healthy, you don’t need to be screened. Don’t wait until you discover something yourself. My diagnosis was discovered through a routine mammogram. I had no changes in my body, no pain, no lumps, no symptoms. I had no idea that cancer was living inside of my body.
Cancer may have entered my story, but thank God it did not get to write my final chapter. My story is one of faith, hope, strength, perseverance, and survival. I hope my story inspires someone to make that appointment, get that mammogram, have that conversation with their doctor. Because early detection can save your life, it certainly saved mine! Sometimes, a tiny hummingbird can remind you to have faith and sometimes, the wings you need to keep going are the wings of faith.
With Faith, Hope, and Love,
Katrina - Wings of Faith
