Jessica Martinez, In Her Own Words

“Step by step, day by day” is the motto I live by. You never know how strong you truly are until life forces you to find out.

My name is Jessica Martinez. On May 2, 2024, my life took an unexpected turn. It was an ordinary day—I was decorating for my husband’s 29th birthday, excited to celebrate him and the new chapter in our lives.

At 27, I believed I was living my best life. I was a full-time mom, dedicating myself to raising our children, and I felt incredibly blessed. My husband, Julian, worked tirelessly so I could be there for our kids. I was proud of how far we’d come and the stable life we had built together.

But life can change in an instant. I felt that force when I heard the words, “Mrs. Martinez, are you sitting down? Is anyone with you?” I said, “I’m not alone,” and sat on my bed. The nurse told me my biopsy results were in. I had almost forgotten about the test on April 30—I had been so focused on planning Julian’s surprise party. Then she said it: “You have breast cancer.” I was shocked. I asked her to repeat it. A strange calm washed over me. I insisted she had the wrong person, but she gently confirmed the diagnosis and explained the next steps.

“Mrs. Martinez, are you sitting down? Is anyone with you?”

My mind was spinning. How would I tell my husband? What about our children, my mother—and what about me? I was in the process of weaning my daughter and thought I had a bad infection from breastfeeding. I had even planned to return to work soon—I’m a cosmetologist and love making people feel beautiful and cared for. But life had other plans.

At first, I wasn’t too worried. I trusted in myself and my knowledge of the beauty industry to help me manage the changes that come with chemotherapy. I know it sounds ironic, but I was ready to face it head-on. My treatment plan started with chemotherapy, followed by surgery.

But on May 16, we learned the cancer had metastasized. It felt like being punched in the gut. I cried so hard my heart shattered. My mother-in-law, Ivette, held me and said, “You got this, Jessica!” I longed for my mom to be there too, but due to her memory loss, she couldn’t fully understand what I was going through.

My mother-in-law, Ivette, held me and said, “You got this, Jessica!”

That news sent a ripple through my entire family. I never imagined hearing that it was incurable—treatable, yes—but focused on quality of life. The type of breast cancer I have is Inflammatory Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Triple Negative, metastatic and highly aggressive. My oncologist said we would need to treat it aggressively. The statistics are grim, but I refuse to be a statistic. I’m a warrior, committed to doing whatever it takes to fight.

I've had to change my thinking. This is bigger than me, and I lean on my faith. I try every day not to let the word “cancer” define me or erase who I was before it. I aim to reflect strength, stay positive, and keep going. It’s not by my strength alone—I rely on God. This journey is painful in every way: mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially. Sometimes it feels like too much to bear. But I’m thankful for God’s faithfulness, my in-laws, my husband, and our community who’ve helped us through.

This journey is painful in every way: mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially.

In January, I reached out to Dance for the Cure. We had moved in with my in-laws, and Julian took time off work to care for me. We needed all the help we could get. Dance for the Cure stepped in to ease some of the financial pressure and brought a sense of hope back into our lives. Kathleen Cirioli and Joanne Liscovitz—true angels—offered support when we needed it most. Their help gave me a memory I’ll never forget: a beautiful moment with my family where, for a little while, life felt normal again.

I realized that although I’m living life through a different lens now, this path was meant to unfold. I’ve found purpose in the pain. Though it’s terrifying, I’ve discovered new parts of myself—learning to love me more than I ever have. I’ve learned to live unapologetically and to put myself first. In chaos and uncertainty, there’s nothing like unity and understanding. Every day is a gift. And as long as I’m breathing, I choose life.

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