Baby + Cancer

My friend Salena was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2016. She discovered she was pregnant with her 4th child at the same time finding out that she had breast cancer. Salena works with me at Vera Bradley and always has been such a positive force of nature. Salena was the perfect example of grit and grace. She worked full time for much of her treatments, while balancing being a mom and her cancer treatments. Her story was definitely the inspiration for my Season 2 and sharing other cancer survivor stories that are so uniquely different from my own.

While being pregnant and facing breast cancer is not unheard it, it definitely is rather unique in Fort Wayne Indiana. Salena discussed her treatment at the encouragement of another Vera Bradley employee, with researchers at Indiana University (Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer). They look at treatments for others with breast cancer regularly and were able to make recommendations to her treatment plan to keep both her and her baby safe. Her baby Samantha is now 2 and is full of light and energy.