Our Little Family  

Our little family has been through so much in the last few years, from diagnosis to survivorship, we faced the unthinkable. My son, Jacob, is my hero.

DIAGNOSIS

 In November 2019, Jacob started to lose feeling and function in his arms. Jacob was only 3 years old. As we headed to Wolfson's Childrens Hospital for the 3^rd time with our Primary Care Physician following behind us, my worst nightmare was coming alive in front of my face, there was something seriously wrong with my child. After many tests and a biopsy Jacob was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma in his C-Spine. The tumor was wrapping around his spinal cord inside of his C-Spine (his neck) and causing the nerves that control his arms to stop working. 

TREATMENT

I will never forget falling to my knees in the surgery waiting room and praying through my cries that God would show up for us that night.. and he did. Immediately, we were introduced to an amazing team of physicians and surrounded with support by our incredible family. It was then that our battle with cancer began.

From November 2019 - July 2020 we fought against the Ewings Sarcoma with chemotherapy, proton radiation, and an unwavering determination to beat this disease, not to mention the COVID pandemic was happening at the same time.  Covid has nothing on cancer and the devastation that comes along with it.

SURVIVORSHIP

Our family was shaken and bruised by the time we ended treatment in July 2020 but WE DID IT! The tumor was gone and Jacob was declared CLEARED on July 3^rd 2020. Jacob rang the Victory Bell that day, surrounded by his favorite super heros, and we have never looked back.

Our family was thrilled and celebrate the holidays in 2020 with so much happiness. 

In January 2021, disaster struck our family again. Shane Riggs, my husband, passed away on the 11th. Shane's passing was unexpected and an unintentional accident. Shane was one of Jacob's biggest advocates during his treatments, it was a devastating loss for all of us. 

When it rains it surely pours. Life was so different as a widower, juggling being a mother of a cancer survivor, raising my daughter, and trying to manage the household was a challenge. It was painful, difficult, and extremely isolating at times. It would have been easy to allow the pain to consume me but that was not an option. 

TESTAMENT

Jacob is a walking miracle from God himself and our story is a testament of courage & strength. 

I became a Certified Life-Coach and coached myself into turning our lives around. I was determined to turn my pain into energy and to create something great. With that, Shine Anyways was born in September 2022. 

I CHOOSE TO SHINE ANYWAYS, EVERYDAY.

Cancer affects more than just the patient, its a family affair. Cancer affects the whole family and can be financially and emotionally draining. Not to mention, Jacob's cancer could come back at any moment and with that comes the immediate need for childhood cancer research and community support.

Shine Anyways provides the cancer community with Custom Motivational Support T-shirts, beautiful Park Lane Jewelry, and Self-Care Celesty Beauty products that are sure to boost your confidence to get you through any day, any situation, and any tragedy... it is what saved me.

Our mission is to help ensure there will always be a treatment ready for any family who needs it, that's why a portion of our profits are donated to Childhood Cancer Research every month. 

Thank you for supporting our mission. Let's change the cancer world together, one tshirt at a time.