Our Story
Dani’s Story
FounderI am thankful for my mom’s health because it means I get more time to spend with the most amazing person in my life who has shaped me in so many ways.
My mom has been battling triple negative breast cancer since March 2025. I have watched her to go through countless hours of chemotherapy, tests, doctor’s appointments, daily shots, procedures, immunotherapy infusions, and surgery.
My mom faced chemo in her own unique way. Her beloved nurse, Vivian, confirmed that she is the only patient that has “dressed up” each week for the dreaded “red devil.” Instead of resisting chemo, my mom would count down the days until her next treatment. She called it her “chemo closing checklist” and for those of you who know my mom you know that closing checklists are her thing. She knew that chemo was the only thing that could give her more time with me, and she would have done anything for that.
Initially she didn’t tell me about her diagnosis to make sure my sweet 16 was actually “sweet” and so I wouldn’t lose focus on exams at the end of 10th grade. She kept a detailed journal of what she was going through and how afraid she was of not making it to my high school graduation or getting to see me grow up. This fear made a person who was already strong into Superwoman.
I always knew my mom was special, but I could not believe the army of people she had behind her during this entire process. From our family, her friends, her colleagues at work who are like family, her clients, and the incredible care team at UM Sylvester, she had an endless amount of love and support. I was in awe of how important she was to so many others.
It is important to point out that my mom had a mammogram and ultrasound in December 2024 that was confirmed clear by three separate hospitals and by February 2025 she had a 2.2 cm tumor. Her cancer was extremely aggressive, but luckily, she caught it before it spread to other areas of her body. After 7 months of treatment, I am beyond grateful to say that my mom is cancer free. She was able to beat this disease by catching it early. She has to finish immunotherapy and has another surgery, but she is healthy, happy and determined to make sure she doesn’t have a recurrence. She is now teaching other cancer patients how to advocate for themselves and all the tricks to make chemo bearable.
Tammy’s Story
InspirationIn March 2025, I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer.
Like most people, I was not prepared for the reality of a cancer diagnosis. Overnight, my schedule became filled with chemotherapy treatments, immunotherapy infusions, doctor appointments, scans, lab work, surgery, and recovery. Cancer treatment quickly became a significant part of my daily life.
One thing I learned early on is that cancer requires patients to be active participants in their own care. Although I had undergone a mammogram and ultrasound just a few months earlier that were reported as clear, I knew something was not right. My experience reinforced the importance of paying attention to your body, asking questions, and advocating for yourself throughout the treatment process.
I was fortunate to receive exceptional care from my medical team at University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and to have strong support from family, friends, colleagues, and clients. Their support made a difficult process more manageable and allowed me to focus on treatment and recovery.
Throughout my treatment, I met many patients facing challenges that extended beyond their medical care. Transportation, household needs, childcare, meals, lost income, and other day to day expenses often created additional stress during an already difficult time. It became clear that while medical treatment addresses the disease, many patients also need practical support to navigate everything that comes with it.
After seven months of treatment, I was grateful to achieve a pathologic complete response (pCR) and become cancer free. While I continue to focus on my long term health, the experience changed my perspective on how important practical support can be for patients and their families.
Dani's Promise was created to help fill that gap. Our goal is to provide resources, assistance, and support that help cancer patients focus on what matters most: their treatment, recovery, and families.
“I wore funny costumes and brought my “chemo chain” to treatments. I removed one link from the chain after each round of chemo. I was overwhelmed with emotion when removing the final link. It meant the world to me to have my nurse Vivian by my side through it all. ”