This team walks for Jo-Ann Iannaccone Milone! She is our amazing mother, wife, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She would love to share her story with you:

 

Through the year 2021 and up until February 2022 I had been feeling better than ever. I was active, traveling, and enjoying time with family and friends. I was the best version of myself. Then, at the end of February 2022, I felt something in my lower abdomen that kept coming and going. This didn’t sit right with me. I know my body, so I decided to be precautious and visit a gastrointestinal doctor. 

 

This doctor said there was no need for alarm, and that a colonoscopy could be scheduled in about 3 weeks for precaution. I also asked if it would be worthwhile to see my OB/GYN. He said “probably not, because you're due to be seen in May”. I called my OB/GYN anyway and was seen. 

 

An internal examination was done. It looked like a cyst was on one of my ovaries and after taking a CA-125 blood test I received a call from the OB/GYN saying that she had assembled a team at Yale Smilow Cancer Hospital. I went that evening. 

 

My family and I had the most hope that it still could just be a cyst. Regardless, the doctors told me a total hysterectomy was needed. I went in for the surgery less than a week after this initial appointment on March 14, 2022. It was then confirmed that I had ovarian cancer. How could this be?! I was living my best life just a week ago!!!

 

My family and I thank God for Dr. Ratner and her team for saving my life. After the surgery and 6 months of chemotherapy, I am cancer free.

But Dr. Ratner tells me that I saved my own life. I hope that by listening to my story, people become more aware of the importance of knowing your own body and listening to it. This is why we are participating in the Beverly Levy Walk on May 5th… to bring awareness, attention, and education to women’s health and reproductive cancers! This is also an opportunity for survivors, families, and friends to come together and walk as we raise funds for reproductive cancer research at Yale School of Medicine. 

 

Please sponsor our AMAZING team so we can help this amazing cause.