In this raw and honest episode, I share what happened after my nipple-sparing double mastectomy, the days of drains, the strange world of tissue expanders, and the mix of fear and faith that followed. From the relief of having my drains finally removed, to the panic attack I had during my first fill in the Holland Tunnel, this episode pulls back the curtain on what recovery really feels like.

You’ll hear the truth about expanders, the tightness, the tingling, the emotional toll of living in a body that doesn’t yet feel like your own, and the small, quiet moments of progress that begin to rebuild you from the inside out.

This isn’t just about surgery. It’s about learning to trust your body again, finding peace through faith, and realizing that healing isn’t just physical, it’s emotional, spiritual, and deeply personal.

If you’re navigating your own BRCA journey, facing surgery, or supporting someone who is, this episode is a reminder that you’re not alone in the fear, the discomfort, or the slow rediscovery of who you are becoming.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The days leading up to my preventative double mastectomy felt like living in slow motion. Every bedtime routine, every hug with my boys, every glance in the mirror carried a weight I can’t fully describe. I prayed. I cried. I tried to hold onto ordinary moments, knowing life would never feel the same.

In this raw episode, I take you into those final days before surgery, the surreal walk into the operating room, and what it was like to wake up in a body that no longer felt like mine. I share the pain of drains and expanders, the grief that crashed over me in the shower, and the strange coexistence of fear and peace.

I also talk about my choice to undergo a nipple-sparing mastectomy — and why, for me, holding onto anything I could mattered. The lift and reduction I had beforehand, the identity I lost, and the faith that gave me clarity when I needed it most.

This isn’t just a story about surgery. It’s about grief, motherhood, faith, and finding resolve when everything feels broken. If you’re facing your own surgery or supporting someone who is, I want you to know: you’re not alone in the fear, the grief, or the healing.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you’re BRCA positive, one of the hardest moments comes when you’re standing at the crossroad: Do I keep going with surveillance, or do I choose preventative surgery? Both options are heavy. Both come with fear, loss, and uncertainty.

In this episode, I share how I prayed desperately for clarity, and how God answered with signs I couldn’t ignore. Two women, two conversations, one day… and suddenly, the decision I had been agonizing over became undeniable.

I’ll take you into the raw emotions of that moment, the fear that didn’t go away, and the peace that still carried me into surgery. If you’re facing your own impossible decision, or walking alongside someone who is, this episode is here to remind you that clarity will come, and peace is possible even when you’re still afraid.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts + Spotify.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you test positive for a BRCA mutation, one of the hardest questions you’ll ever face is this: Do I live under constant surveillance, or do I undergo surgery before cancer ever arrives?

In this raw and unfiltered episode, Marisa opens up about standing at that exact crossroad — and the fears, doubts, and sleepless nights that came with it. She shares what it was like to live scan-to-scan, the weight of her colon cancer experience, and the emotional tug-of-war that made surveillance unbearable. With honesty and compassion, she walks you through how she wrestled with the decision and what finally brought her peace.

This isn’t a medical lecture. It’s a heart-to-heart conversation about identity, motherhood, fear, loss, and choosing a path forward when both options feel impossible. If you’re navigating your own BRCA journey, or love someone who is, this episode will remind you that your fears are valid, your questions matter, and the “right” choice is the one that gives you peace.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When I got the call telling me I tested positive for BRCA2, my world stopped. I was sitting in my car, expecting to hear “everything’s fine,” and instead I was handed words that changed my life forever. In this episode, I open up about that moment, the fear, the anger, and the impossible choices that followed—and what it really feels like to live with a BRCA diagnosis.

This is the episode I wish I’d had the day I got the call. Together, we’ll talk about the pain points every newly diagnosed woman faces, the steps you can take to navigate the medical and emotional chaos, and most importantly, the positives of knowing. Because BRCA isn’t a life sentence, it’s a turning point.

“If you’ve just gotten the call and you feel like your world is upside down, pull up a chair, bestie, this episode is for you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.