Celebrating Cervivor’s Pathway To Parenthood Week: Embracing the Beauty of Modern Families

As we observe Cervivor’s Pathway To Parenthood Week, we honor the diverse and often non-traditional journeys to building a family. Survivorship encompasses not only survivors of cervical cancer but also those who have faced infertility, adoption, surrogacy, foster care, and other paths to parenthood.

In today’s world, family structures have evolved, and traditional norms no longer define the only way to build a family. Whether through adoption, surrogacy, foster parenting, or blended families, every journey is unique and valuable. Cervivor Aunties, Godparents, and “Bonus Kids” all play vital roles in the landscape of modern families.

Many in the Cervivor community know that life is unpredictable, and circumstances can change very suddenly. However, within the chaos, it’s essential to find peace, support, and necessary resources. The Cervivor community is a testament to each one of these pillars. Founder and Chief Visionary, Tamika Felder expresses, “I had always dreamed of being a mother. Over the next 20 years, I never lost the desire to be a mom. But I buried it deep, deep inside. I founded a community, Cervivor, to advocate for other cervical cancer patients. I helped change laws around fertility preservation. My legacy wasn’t going to be the lives that I brought into this world but the lives I would save.”

But on April Fools Day 2021, everything changed for Tamika. Fast forward now to 2024, The Virginia “Ginny” Marable Cervivor Baby Gift Fund was established after Tamika received the most exceptional gift – from one Cervivor to another. This fund brings hope for those navigating the challenges of building a family. By donating to this fund, you can provide crucial assistance and support to Cervivors on their journey to parenthood. Every contribution brings us closer to making their dreams a reality.

As we navigate the complexities of modern family building, it’s essential to connect with others who understand our journeys. The Cervivor Podcast offers a safe space for intimate conversations, expert insights, and inspiring stories of hope and resilience. Join us as we dive into the experiences of Cervivors and their allies, exploring topics from fertility and surrogacy to emotional healing and advocacy. Our upcoming episodes in season 4 feature:

Episode 7: Anna Ogo and Fertility Lawyer, Rijon Charne share their experiences and insights on navigating the legal aspects of family building. This episode airs on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.

Episode 8: Dulcely Tavarez and Dr. Terri L. Woodard discuss the intricate link between cancer and infertility, offering valuable insights and hope for those facing similar challenges. Tune in on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.

Let’s come together to celebrate the diversity of modern families and support those on their journey to parenthood. Donate to the Virginia “Ginny” Marable Cervivor Baby Gift Fund. As a community, we can make a difference and empower others to build their families with hope, love, and support.

If you’re a cervical cancer patient or survivor who has navigated fertility preservation, surrogacy, foster care, or become a godparent after cancer, we want to hear from you! Your story has the power to inspire, educate, and empower others who are walking a similar path. By sharing your experiences, challenges, and triumphs, you can help create a ripple effect of hope and resilience within the Cervivor community. Take a moment to share your story today and be part of a movement that celebrates the strength and diversity of modern families.

In Their Own Words: Five Cancer Research Sheroes

Whether referring to those who are influencing medical milestones in cancer research, the women who are thriving, or our loved ones who are now in our memories and forever in our hearts, Cervivor is proud to highlight the women who share their stories, rallying fists, and expertise that help us get closer to a cure.

And to be clear, this is not the pride that interferes with faith or recognition of a higher calling; This is the delight and fulfillment that keeps us here, fighting, sharing, educating and yelling from mountaintops that we can find a cure. So during this Women’s History Month, we want to acknowledge women (who, by the way make up nearly 70% of the entire world’s healthcare workforce), and shout out five women in cancer research and healthcare – in their own words. 

Padmanee Sharma, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: “I feel like we’re right on the cutting edge of discoveries that will create incredibly good outcomes for our patients with cancer … Finally, people can see that what we’ve been saying for all these years about immunotherapy is correct. But more important, we can now deliver the hope to patients that we’ve been working so hard for.” 

Rosalind Franklin, British chemist whose doctoral student took the infamous “Photo 51,” that first showed the iconic double helix of DNA in 1952: “ … Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated. Science, for me, gives a partial explanation of life. In so far as it goes, it is based on fact, experience and experiment. Your theories are those which you and many other people find easiest and pleasantest to believe, but so far as I can see, they have no foundation other than they lead [cq] to a pleasanter view of life …Read more.

Dr Princess Nothemba Simelela, Assistant Director-General for Strategic Programmatic Priorities: Cervical Cancer Elimination: “I’m always an optimist. When you have a life and you have opportunities, we should strive to progress and share this enthusiasm with new communities. We must use this global commitment to elimination for national action. We can make a huge contribution to the lives of women who are less privileged and advantaged than we are. And move together towards a world free of cervical cancer … The most important message that we are communicating to everybody is to take this forward together, in one united push, and to maintain the momentum.” Read more.

Helen Coley Nauts—the daughter of Dr. William B. Coley, the Father of Cancer Immunotherapy (CRI) who helped advance her father’s work despite not having a college degree or scientific training: “You must be aware that no one else but me has so far made a detailed and painstaking study of all possible aspects of this form of treatment. Until such time as you may train a person with a more impressive medical background, I would suggest that you appoint me as a sort of registrar of information on the above mentioned Toxin clearing house.” Read more of Naut’s letters chronicling her advocacy toward a new path of cancer research in the 1950s.

Dr. Lillian L. Siu, Canadian oncologist, clinician scientist and recipient of the International Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award: “All of us have family members who are affected by the disease, by cancer. There’s always going to be a personal component to most oncologists that enter the field. You have to understand something about the heart, you have to understand something about the lungs … you almost have to be a jack of all trades. That’s what intrigues me about oncology and cancer medicine. And obviously, to make a big difference in cancer is going to be very rewarding because that’s going to save a lot of lives and make a lot of difference in people’s lives.” Watch more.

Learn more about our cervivors, who we, too salute, this month and share their stories with your circles! Have a story of your own? Share it with us!