At just 33 years old, Ashley Blair’s world shifted with five life-changing words: “You have breast cancer.” A lump, confirmed by mammogram and ultrasound, led to her diagnosis of Stage 1 Triple Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma on April 21, 2022.

For Ashley, a devoted mother from Bartow, Florida, the most challenging part wasn’t the hair loss, the aggressive chemotherapy, or the 34 rounds of radiation that followed. It was the uncertainty. “You fight and endure all the extreme treatments, but you still don’t know if you’ll get the chance to live when it’s over,” she recalls. “My first thought was my daughters, two and seven at the time—being without their mom.”

Triple Negative Breast Cancer doesn’t respond to hormone therapy or targeted drugs, which meant chemotherapy was her only real option. Ashley went through 15 rounds, including four brutal doses of the “Red Devil”—a nickname given to one of the most potent chemo drugs available. She then had a lumpectomy with reconstructive surgery, followed by radiation.

Despite the physical toll, Ashley was determined to keep life as normal as possible for her family. “Once I shaved my hair off myself, I made a vow: no matter what I looked like or was going through, I was going to be a strong example for my daughters. I never missed one school function or one soccer game. Looking back, my kids barely remember me being sick—aside from the ‘bad haircut,’” she laughs.

The support of her husband, Shane, her children, Maci, Avery, and Cody, and her circle of friends and family helped carry her through. But prayer became her anchor. “When I was scared, I asked God to walk with me through it all and give me the strength not to fear,” she says.

One of the biggest surprises? The emotional aftermath. “No one prepares you for the mental pieces that come after cancer. It changes how you think and how you see the world. But that change is a gift in many ways—it forces clarity. You realize what matters.”

Today, Ashley lives intentionally. She’s traveling more, crossing places off her list that she used to only dream about. She’s walking in 5 Ks, focusing on exercise and self-care. “I live 100%,” she says. I love deeply and cherish every moment.”

While Ashley didn’t need financial support from BCFCF during her treatment, she sees immense value in its presence. “It’s powerful to know there’s a local foundation rallying behind women going through this. That means something.”

Now 36, Ashley looks forward to volunteering at BCFCF events and giving back to others walking a similar path. Her message to newly diagnosed women? “Be strong. Believe in the power of prayer. And if I could talk to myself on diagnosis day, I’d say, You’ve got this. This is just a bump in the road.”

When asked to sum up BCFCF in one sentence, Ashley didn’t hesitate:
“A beautiful reminder that you are never alone.”