Cancer Survivor Paying It Forward

Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be devastating but many survivors will tell you it's their family and faith that gets them through.

About this time last year, Six in the Morning met a Tulsa woman who was beginning her journey through breast cancer.

This year, Six in the Morning anchor LeAnne Taylor reports on how she's doing and why she plans to Race for the Cure.

Little Laney Stanfill still doesn't have a whole lot of hair, but her mom, Jill Stanfill does! This time last year Jill was bald as she was fighting breast cancer.

"Last year I had several chemo treatments, no hair, just had the baby and just dealing with and coming to terms with having cancer at that point. And now, I'm cancer free," said Jill Stanfill.

Jill had found a lump during her pregnancy. Less than a week later, she gave birth to Laney. Her battle hasn't been easy, chemotherapy, surgery, working and raising her two little girls.

"I found strength in God, I mean that's really where it came from. I found a great church and support from my family and friends. It took a village. To raise a child, it takes a village, to get someone through cancer I believe. People I didn't know, people I do know were always there for me and still are," Jill Stanfill said.

Jill had her family and friends participated in last year's Race for the Cure.

"It was a very fun event and it was such an amazing thing to see all our blue T-shirts as we walked together for the support. And I was just amazed at how many people came and how many people who donated. I was just very grateful to those people and I probably didn't get to say thank you enough," said Stanfill.

This year, Jill will be racing again, with one goal in mind.

"I don't want to see my little girls or anyone's little girl's going through this kind of thing. It would be wonderful if we could just set that scare aside and have something to take care of it and this research that they can do for us can hopefully bring an answer," Stanfill said.

Jill is grateful for everyday and says going through breast cancer has changed her for the better. "I feel wonderful. I'm back to the old Jill. I'm back to who I've always been, probably better. I'm stronger and I have a better idea of what I want to do with the rest of my life. I have always said and I truly feel now that it's all over, you get something like this or have something like this happen to you in your life for a reason. I believe up until this point I was living a day to day life and not appreciating what I need to do and I want to take more action, instead of just wake up every day, go to work, come back home. I want to make a difference, somewhere," said Jill Stanfill.

One way Jill is hoping to make a difference is by participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. She already has her team in place, "Jogging for Jill."

You can create a team as well or you can join LeAnne Taylor's team. CLICK HERE, then click on the blue banner and you'll see a drop down menu that says LeAnne's team. Click there and then you'll see a join LeAnne's team button. Click there and follow the prompts. It's very simple to register online and even if you aren't able to race, you can still make a donation.

The teams are in competition to see who can raise the most money. LeAnne says she will even have a little prize for the person who raises the most on my team. Sort of a little incentive!

Team registration ends the end of the month, so time's running out to get on LeAnne Taylor's team.

The race is Saturday, September 20 at CityPlex Towers, 81st & Lewis.

Related story:

8/24/2007  A Wife, A Mother And Now A Breast Cancer Fighter