Young Women, Brave Voices

I had a full and meaningful two days at the Wellness Fair. I am deeply grateful for the wonderful family and friends who showed up to support me, and I am equally grateful for the inspiring women I met who are using their voices to change the world for the better.

Meeting Jillian and Michelynn at the Wellness Fair reminded me of the power of sharing our stories, advocating for our health, and turning lived experience into hope for others.

The first photo is with Jillian Wagner, host of the oneofeight podcast. Jillian shares her experience as a young woman diagnosed with breast cancer. She advocated for herself, pushed to have a mammogram, and thankfully, her cancer was caught early. Now she is sharing her story to encourage others to listen to their bodies and speak up for the care they need.

The second photo is with Michelynn and her daughter, Poppy. Michelynn was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer de novo, meaning stage four from the beginning. She now shares her story to encourage young women and men to get tested, even when they are told they are “too young” for colon cancer. As a mother of four girls, she continues to navigate cancer and treatment with incredible courage, at home, in the U.S., and in Mexico.

Both of these young women represent a deeply concerning reality: more young people are being diagnosed with cancers once thought to affect mostly older adults. Yet they are taking their experiences and turning them into advocacy, awareness, and hope for others.

If you know someone who may need to hear their stories, you can follow Jillian on

Instagram at oneofeightpodcast and Michelynn Ann on Facebook and Instagram.

I left the Wellness Fair feeling grateful, moved, and reminded once again of the power of sharing our stories. We never know who may need to hear them.