Mom fights stage four cancer virtually amid pandemic
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ANKENY, Iowa (KCCI) — The day the United States declared COVID-19 a national emergency, an Ankeny woman found out she had Stage four cancer. Now, she’s fighting the disease virtually.
Lisa Lund’s first daughter, Quinn, was five weeks old the day Lund started her cancer fight. It’s also when COVID-19 infected the nation.
“I got a call from my doctor that I had stage four cancer, so I was immediately put into the hospital due to my deteriorating health. Throughout that time, COVID-19, the shutdowns started,” said Lisa Lund.
By Lund’s second week at MercyOne, the 30-year-old could no longer have visitors. She had to be brave.
“It was honestly the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through, but it also gave me the courage and the will to fight as hard as possible, because I wanted to get home to her,” said Lund.
Lund fought stage four Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She went through six rounds of chemotherapy, and 18 radiation treatments.
“I wanted to be healthy for her, and there was just no other option for me,” said Lund.
Six months later, Lund is healthy and back with Quinn. She’s had two successful no evidence of disease scans. Now, Lund is taking the cancer fight online. She’s doing the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s virtual fitness Re(Solution) Challenge.
“It’s a way that people can track their exercise through January, and fundraise all for an amazing cause,” explained Lund.
Two weeks into 2021, this Ankeny mom has a message, after conquering the tumultuous year that was 2020.
“When you’re going through something really difficult, just tell yourself, you can do hard things. We all survived 2020, and I think that’s the message for all of us in itself,” encouraged Lund.
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