Hi I’m Kara and here’s my story:

In September 2024, at just 36 years old and a mom to a 5-month-old and a 3-year-old, I thought I was recovering from a tough pregnancy and dealing with hemorrhoids. Instead, I was diagnosed with stage 3B rectal cancer. Overnight, my life flipped from enjoying the newborn bubble to stopping breastfeeding abruptly so I could start aggressive chemotherapy. Since then, I’ve completed 8 rounds of chemo, 28 rounds of chemo radiation, and major surgery with a temporary ileostomy. It’s been a hell of a year, but I’ve kept going — fighting like hell for my kids every step of the way. Now, it’s my mission to spread awareness of the common symptoms too often dismissed, especially for women in the postpartum period.

It’s time to break the sigma - and make these questions part of routine screenings and check ups- If you ever notice a change in your bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, constant exhaustion, or blood when going to the bathroom — even just a speck — please get a colonoscopy. These symptoms are commonly dismissed, and a colonoscopy could save your life. It’s always better to be safe and be told it’s nothing than to assume it’s nothing and miss an early diagnosis