From Diagnosis to Author: Lauren's Journey

My name is Lauren, and I'm a three-year breast cancer survivor from Pennsylvania. I live with my husband, Matt, and our three sons, Connor, Jack, and Brooks. I was diagnosed with Stage 2A, hormone-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer in late 2022, just weeks after my 40th birthday and first mammogram.

Hearing the words "you have breast cancer" felt like my world cracked open. As a mother of three boys, a teacher, and someone who had always taken pride in maintaining my health, I suddenly found myself facing decisions I had never imagined making. After a whirlwind of scans, biopsies, and second opinions, I underwent a mastectomy in January 2023. Three weeks later, I began chemotherapy, followed by 25 rounds of radiation and five reconstructive surgeries. I completed my final surgery in July 2025.

Chemotherapy and the Power of Cold Capping

Chemotherapy was one of the most difficult parts of my journey. I made the decision to cold cap because I wanted to preserve a small sense of normalcy for myself and my children. Cold capping is not easy. It's hours of freezing temperatures, strict schedules, and unwavering determination. But for me, it became a symbol of fighting for the pieces of myself that cancer tried to take.

“I sat through each infusion bundled in blankets while reminding myself that I could endure anything for my kids.”

A Walk That Changed Everything

During my chemotherapy journey, I forced myself to walk outside every day. I walked because it made me feel better and, most importantly, for clarity. During one of those walks, a small idea emerged: what if I wrote a children's book about a mom going through chemo while cold capping?

When I searched for resources during my diagnosis, I found nothing that matched my experience. Every children's book revolved around a mother losing her hair. This wasn't my story, nor was it the story of so many others like me. That's when I realized what I needed to do: write the book that didn't exist. I decided to become an author and turn my experience into something that could help families navigate their own journeys.

Books That Change Lives

Eight months later, Mom's Magical Crown: A Cold Capping Adventure was in my hands. One Facebook post changed everything. The response was overwhelming because this was the first resource of its kind. That initial success gave me the platform to write three more books: Brave Rays: A Journey Through Radiation Therapy; Mom's Magical Crown: Paxman Edition; and Mom, What's a Mastectomy?

Writing became my therapy. My books help families navigate the conversations that matter most during cancer treatment. They're written in a gentle, factual way that honors the complexity of what families experience while remaining accessible to young readers.

“My hope is that my books ease the burden of answering all those tough questions that children may have and foster meaningful discussions.”

Finding Hope in the Quiet Moments

Along the way, I learned that hope doesn't always look big or dramatic.

"Sometimes it's the quiet moments: my children's laughter, a friend dropping off dinner, a nurse holding my hand during a hard day, or seeing tiny signs of progress in healing."

These small gestures became my anchor during the darkest days of my treatment.

Advice for the Newly Diagnosed

My advice to anyone newly diagnosed with breast cancer is this:
1. Take everything one step at a time

2. Let people help you

3. Give yourself grace. You are not weak for being scared. You are not alone.

“Even in the hardest chapters, there is strength inside you that you haven’t met yet.”

About Lauren

Lauren is a three-year breast cancer survivor, author, educator, and advocate from Pennsylvania. She continues to raise awareness about cold capping during chemotherapy and the importance of resources for children navigating a parent's cancer journey. Her books are available to families seeking guidance and understanding during their own treatment.

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