Lilly Ribner was diagnosed at 37 with Stage I, Triple Negative breast cancer. She is a stay at home mother of two young children. In this episode, Lilly reads her essay “Through Her Eyes” from the 2024 Mothers & Daughters issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about a moment where three generations exist at once: a mother losing her memories, a daughter facing breast cancer, and a little girl sweeping up the curls her mother just shaved from her head. April and Lilly will talk about a moment of control found in cancer, radical presence, befriending anxiety, finding community, and survivorship. They will also explore the liminal space where roles reverse, caring for a parent while navigating motherhood through cancer.

More about episode sponsor After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD): https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org/

https://www.instagram.com/abcdafterbreastcancerdiagnosis/#

Learn more about Lilly: https://www.instagram.com/lillyribner/

Purchase the Mothers & Daughters issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/mothers24

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

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More about Wildfire Journal:

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

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Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Erin Perkins was diagnosed at 34 with Stage II, Triple Negative breast cancer. She is a volunteer, writer, Young Breast Cancer Project board member, and stay-at-home parent. Erin is a self-published author of “Young Breast Cancer Your Story and Mine: A Compact Guide”. In this episode, Erin reads her essay “The Way It Felt” from the 2024 Mothers & Daughters issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about motherhood and memory and what happens when the fear of leaving your children collides with your own childhood wound of being left. April and Erin will talk about embodied writing, cancer activating old wounds, parenting before and after cancer, and Erin’s self-published book. They will also discuss the words that changed Erin at her friend’s deathbed.

More about episode sponsor iRise Above Foundation: https://www.iriseabovefoundation.org/

https://www.instagram.com/irise_above/

Learn more about Erin:

https://www.erinleeperkins.com/

https://www.instagram.com/erinleeperkins/

https://erinleeperkins.substack.com/

Purchase the Mothers & Daughters issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/mothers24

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal:

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

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Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Julia Tabisz was diagnosed at 25 with Triple Negative breast cancer. She is a journalist, editor, and a mom with a passion for writing and competitive Irish dance. Julia happily lives in the woods of Maryland with her son and daughter. In this episode, Julia reads her essay “A Mother’s Biggest Problem” from the 2024 Mothers & Daughters issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is a story about motherhood, and how swiftly perspective can be upended by a cancer diagnosis while still brushing tiny teeth and tucking in tiny bodies. April and Julia will talk about journalistic writing versus writing to process and heal, how being given writing prompts unlocks flashes of memory, and how Irish dance has kept Julia connected to herself.

Learn more about Julia:

https://www.instagram.com/sisterhoodunplugged/

https://sisterhoodunplugged.com/

Purchase the “Mothers & Daughters" issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/mothers24

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal:

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Lauren Bruns was diagnosed at 38 with Triple Positive breast cancer while just eight weeks into her second pregnancy. Lauren is a former competitive dancer, engineering graduate, and earned her MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. She is currently a management consultant. Lauren loves traveling, biking, swimming, NYT games, and rooting for her beloved Cleveland sports teams.

In this episode, Lauren reads her essay “My Pony-Tale” from the 2025 Hair issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about how keeping her hair through cold capping felt like both a gift and a disguise during a pandemic pregnancy. April and Stephanie will talk about moments of hope in cancer, the duality of being pregnant while going through cancer treatment, and what newborn bonding looked like for her family because of cancer.

More about episode sponsor Wildflower Health Coaching: https://www.wildflowerhealthcoaching.com/

https://www.instagram.com/yourkickasslifeaftercancer

Learn more about Lauren: https://www.instagram.com/brunsle/

Purchase the “Hair” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/body24

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal:

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Stephanie Marnocha was diagnosed at 33 with Stage III breast cancer. Stephanie is a licensed clinical social worker and outdoors lover. She lives in Denver with her four-legged adventure buddy, Annie. In this episode, Stephanie reads her essay “Being Myself” from the 2024 Body issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about body autonomy and standing by a choice that goes against the grain. April and Stephanie will talk about really seeing yourself when the mastectomy bandages come off, anorexia, losing time to inner dialogues, and insights on keeping a journaling practice. They’ll also discuss cancer and fertility.

More about episode sponsor After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD): https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org/

Learn more about Stephanie: https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.marnocha

Purchase the “Body” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/body24

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal:

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Tawny Rachelle was diagnosed at 39 with Stage II, hormone positive breast cancer. Tawny is a long-term survivor with more than five years since being diagnosed. She is also a long-time contributor to Wildfire Journal having published six pieces with us over the years since 2018. In this episode, Tawny reads her essay “The Luckiest Sister” from the 2018 “Caregivers” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about the tender space of sisterhood where care runs deeper than routine and obligation. April and Tawny will talk about the touching selfless moment she was shown by her sister, the caregiving that gets overshadowed by cancer, giving back as a caregiver after cancer, and the different ways of showing up for people. They will also discuss Tawny’s biggest challenges today as a long-term survivor.

More about episode sponsor iRise Above Foundation:

https://www.iriseabovefoundation.org/

https://www.instagram.com/irise_above

Learn more about Tawny: https://www.instagram.com/itsjustahiccup/

Purchase the “Caregivers” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-caregivers

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal:

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Tabitha Holman was diagnosed at 39 with de novo Stage IV breast cancer. Tabitha is an elementary school teacher, and mother of two young boys. At the time of her diagnosis, she was considered too young and low-risk to access a timely mammogram when she found her lump. Now she is focusing her efforts on advocacy in hopes of improving access to screening, research, and care. In this episode, Tabitha reads her essay “Hair Karma” from the 2025 Hair issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about the emotional complexity of losing her hair during chemotherapy—just months after giving birth—and the surprising, full-circle moment that made her stop and wonder. April and Tabitha will talk about kindness, having cancer and being post-partum, and advocating for medical care that goes against the standard of care. They also discuss grief and living with MBC.

More about episode sponsor After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD): https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org/

Learn more about Tabitha: https://www.instagram.com/tabitha.arise/

Purchase the “Hair” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-hair25

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal:

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Raina Kerman was diagnosed at 45 with Stage II,Triple Negative breast cancer. Raina is a dog-loving, fantasy-reading, fitness enthusiast living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In this episode, Raina reads her essay “I Wish I Cared Less” from the 2025 Hair issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about the painful, exhausting, and at times almost comically intense world of cold capping, and what it looks like to want something so badly—not just hair, but agency, normalcy, identity—and to have to let it go. April and Raina discuss the act of surrendering, family support, maintaining appearances, and the language used around breast cancer. This episode contains explicit language.

Learn more about Raina: https://www.instagram.com/raina_terror/

Purchase the “Hair” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-hair25

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal:

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions