Terita M

Terita M., MI

My mother, Theresa Ezekiel - Haley was diagnosed with lung cancer in February of 2018. In April of 2018, she began chemotherapy and radiation treatment. By August of 2018, the cancer had responded positively to the chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Due to this improvement, the doctor stopped her previous form of treatment and started Tarceva; an oral form of chemotherapy.  In April of 2019, after having a quarterly PET scan, doctors noticed that the cancer had returned with a vengeance. It was at this time that I was given the worst news of my life. Unbeknownst to my mother, I was advised that she had 6 months to live. She was relentless in her fight until the very end of her journey.

On June 17, 2019, my mother passed away, with my sister and I right by her side. My mom represents the epitome of strength, she is my SHEro. She loved to make people laugh with her bubbly personality and contagious spirit. She enjoyed riding her bike around the neighborhood while playing her favorite songs. She was the life of the party and the glue to our family. I walk in honor of my beautiful mother while having high hopes of helping and educating others on this ugly disease. Words could never describe how much I miss her but I know she's so proud of the contributions that I have made to the Lung Force campaign.     

First Published: November 16, 2020

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