a story of HOPE
At 37 years old, Heather Abbott was
diagnosed with stage 4 cancer
The cancer was in 9 locations, leading doctors to assume she would never be cured. Though the disease invaded her body, it did not get to be the narrator of the story.
Nearly 5 years since that initial diagnosis, Heather is a thriving mom, wife, business owner, and all around badass– living cancer free.
This is her story of hope.
AS SEEN AT THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
Heather’s Story
October 10, 2017
My situation is serious - I'm not denying that - the PET scan showed 9 different lesions and locations of cancer - two in my bones. But wait - as the shock and fear wash over you (I've felt them too) take a moment to breathe with me - there is so much hope - do not lose heart. ❤️. So I ask for all your encouragement and kind words and joining in me in fighting this cancer with every tool there is - including prayer to Jesus - not the bathrobe wearing, superhero, judgemental prick Jesus or the cultural vague be perfect you are always in trouble Jesus. There are so many disturbing versions and I ache that so many of you have been hurt and attacked in this name. But please let me whisper to you of the Jesus who has carried me tenderly through suffering before and is very close to me now. The Jesus of deep presence, justice, and goodness who is not abandoning me to this disease. The Jesus who carries sorrows with us - not pretends they aren't there.
Heather’s young daughter had asked her to dress up as Wonder Woman for Halloween months earlier. In a proactive move, Heather purchased the costume in August, before the diagnosis.
October 14, 2017
The dare: My sister knows I have a Wonder Woman outfit I bought for Halloween so she dared me to wear it to chemo. I accepted. So next Wednesday am (October 18th) I will be heading to chemo dressed as Wonder Woman. Some of my feisty tribe have decided to don Wonder Woman t- shirts on chemo days to be with me in solidarity. Feel free to join and post your pic wearing yours with the hashtag #tribewonderwoman.
Heather’s cancer was aggressive and would require aggressive treatment. Having lost her own mother to cancer nearly 7 years prior, at whatever cost, Heather was determined to live– for her family and for herself. Heather proceeded to wear her Wonder Woman costume to every chemotherapy treatment. Her community came around her as “Tribe Wonder Woman.”
Tribe Wonder Woman
February 24, 2018
GOOD NEWS! I have good news - and I’ve been letting it soak in. At first I was waiting to share with all of you because I was still holding my breath. You know that feeling where you are still waiting for the other shoe to drop? Where you are prepared to be persistent in spite of disappointment - so celebrating is letting your guard down? Yep I was feeling all of that. I still am a teeny bit but I feel more open to enjoying this moment. Open to embracing this good news and knowing we can weather any hard chapters that could come later (but may not come) when we get there. So drum roll for the good news (I know finallly I was torturing you!) In a physical exam (so not an official PET scan) my primary tumor in my breast and armpit are unfindable. Yes. You heard that right THEY CAN’T FIND THEM! So smile with me. Let that good news sink in. A book I love right now called “Hope Heals” - the story of Jay and Katherine Wolf - has a motto I’m adopting, “Don’t wait to Celebrate.” Let’s not overlook all the good - all the big and little things to celebrate on the way while we wait in hope for resolution. Maybe you are waiting for a kid to grow out of a hard stage, or to be done with school, or that work deadline to be over with, or your heart to mend, or your health to restore, or your hope to return. There will always be parts of life that are unfinished hopes - I want a full scan saying No Evidence of Disease. But I’m not going to wait to celebrate. My oncologist is”cautiously optimistic”. I am uncautiously optimistic. We will get to remission. Certainly this means my body is responding to the chemo. We have to wait two more weeks til March 8th and 9th to do the official scans that show on a detailed level how every cancer lesion has responded over these past five months. And that is okay - but right now there is something good to celebrate. So take a moment and celebrate your tiny or big news and hold your people close. 💗
The news about Heather’s cancer was hopeful and miraculous. Per staunch medical advice, multiple surgeries and intense radiation quickly ensued.
June 6, 2018
This sign greets me as I walk into my house everyday. It has reminded me for many seasons to keep growing - to keep my roots deep and not shrivel when things get tough. I bought this after my Mom went to be with Jesus almost 7 years ago. (She had a really rare cancer of the ureter tube that eventually she wasn’t able to overcome). That season was excruciating. Some parts of life are just hard and painful and the only glimmer of hope is that you aren’t alone. So if you are facing deep loss or overwhelming unknowns I dearly wish I could rescue you from that experience. But I can’t. I can just say you are not alone. You are in the company of all who have suffered. In that group of humanity who has suffered is also my beloved Jesus - the picture of God suffering with us. I think if God said - come follow me and you will never suffer and never experience any loss I would be tempted to take that offer (basically heaven right?) But I’m so grateful that in true fragility and vulnerability we are invited into being fully alive while being fully human. It sounds easier sometimes to curl up in a ball and say, “I quit!!” But God gives us the strength to keep feeling and being even when parts of us want to shut down. We get to feel all the feelings - but not be alone. With resilience I know that if I can make it and grow and flourish in life after deep loss I can make it through this too. So if you are facing something giant - Something that feels too much - searing pain emotional or physical - don’t be alone. Let yourself be held by the God who knows you by name. And by the people around you who just might be your tribe you never fully realized you had. All of you kind friends have given me pep talks and cheered me on last weekend and this week too. I had treatments # 21 and#22. On Monday the machine was broken and I spent the day in bed with my cold. Tomorrow (Thursday) is day #23 and #25 is Monday.
June 11, 2018
#25!!!!!!!! Big Day today!! All went smoothly on my last day of radiation! I rang the bell on the wall to celebrate the end to my 25 days of radiation YIPPEE !!! We took a “victory lap” around the hospital visiting with some of our amazing team at Virginia Mason that have cared for me so well and with so much heart this year. I had a scrumptious lunch and then a much needed nap before enjoying the late afternoon sunshine with my kids. Thank you for celebrating with me. It’s so good to be done.
“In the shelter of each other, the people live.”
Over the course of the year or so that Heather battled cancer, the Abbott family was surrounded by love in every tangible way. From Tribe Wonder Woman to 150 meals delivered by friends and family to their home, the battle was never faced alone.
Today
Today Heather is still cancer free, yet seeks to be a friend, a companion, and a life raft for others experiencing cancer in whatever capacity: as a patient or a loved one.
Heather and her husband and three children live in Seattle, where Heather is the proud owner and founder of Beauty Grows Hope: a garden consulting company born out of her recovery journey. Her work helps people discover beauty, joy, and healing in their own backyards in the same way Heather has. Each year her business gives away a garden design to someone fighting cancer as a way to give back.
“You can be fierce, you can be total badass, and yet your strength does not defend you from how painful it is to live.”
—Heather Abbott
Contact Heather
Heather is eager to connect with others and your stories of hope. While she will try to reply to as many messages as possible, the best way to connect with Heather is by joining the email community (left). Though a true companion for your journey, Heather does not offer cancer coaching or other therapeutic services.
She does occasionally speak about cultivating hope and community in times of adversity as she is able and is working on a book about her journey.