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Cancer Freeze recipient Karen Jackson’s life changed in December of 2018.

“One evening while in the shower, I felt a knot on my left breast,” Jackson said. “The next day, when I called my primary physician and told him what I had found, he ordered a mammogram. In January 2019, I received the call that I was not looking forward to.”

The knot on Jackson’s breast tested positive for cancer.

“It had spread to some of my lymph nodes, and there was also a spot of concern on my clavicle,” Jackson said. “My doctor referred me to The University of Alabama at Birmingham and my first appointment was in January 2019, where they ordered another mammogram, biopsy, MRI and PET scan.”

In March 2019, Jackson began chemotherapy.

“It was supposed to last until Mid-August,” Jackson said. “Because my levels were so low on some days, the treatment continued until Mid-September. In October 2019 I had a left breast lumpectomy and left axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and I recently began my five to six weeks of radiation.”

Despite all of the challenges in her journey, Jackson considers herself blessed.

“I consider myself blessed to be able to wake up every day to see my family,” Jackson said. “Through all of this, I believe that God placed this little pebble in my pathway so that I can be a testimony of faith and healing to help others in their own journey.”

Jackson is the mother of four beautiful children. She has two girls, Marsha and Daniela Collins, and two boys, Shykeem and Jaheim Jackson. She also has four grandchildren, three sweet girls and one handsome little boy. She has been married to my high school sweetheart, Booker Jackson for 23 years and has been in the healthcare field for more than 20 years.