Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

Living Life Fearlessly

As a cancer survivor celebrating one year cancer-free, I want to take this moment especially during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to spotlight an organization close to my heart: SurviveHER.

By the grace of God, I was blessed to have a successful cancer surgery last year, even after waiting an entire year to go through with the full mammogram and biopsy process. Looking back, I put it off for three reasons:

My little brother had just passed away, and I was trying to grieve and find peace before dealing with anything else in my personal life that could possibly be life-changing.

I was afraid of the biopsy process—especially having a marker placed inside of me. I was not educated on the process and the importance of early detection. As soon as I heard that the marker was a piece of metal and would be inserted inside of me, I tied it to a micro-chip and did not think twice about having the biopsy. I was so uneducated.
Most of all, in the back of my mind, I was scared of what the results would be. I’ll share the full story in a future blog post, but for now, I want to spotlight SurviveHER, an organization doing incredible work to support women through their cancer journeys.

Paying It Forward at the 2025 Fearless Stenographers Conference in New Orleans

During this year’s Fearless Stenographers Conference, I felt led to invite SurviveHER as a vendor. My hope was to encourage the steno community from delaying their exams like I did.

I can’t even count how many stenographers told me they were motivated to get checked after hearing about SurviveHER during the conference. Two attendees told me that they had scheduled appointments but were too afraid to go.

Since the event, I’ve heard from others who followed through, got their mammograms, and were inspired by Lyndsay Levingston, the founder of SurviveHER.

That alone made it all worth it. Prior to the conference, I was wondering if this would be a great idea to bring in a vendor for breast cancer and it truly was. This is what you call making an IMPACT within the steno community.

Gratitude and Giving Back

During my cancer journey, the steno community wrapped me in love and support in ways I could have never imagined. Behind the scenes, funds were raised to help with my aftercare. I had no idea what the community was up to. The kindness, generosity, and unity shown to me are things I will never forget.

In gratitude and to pay it forward, during the conference I personally donated $1,500.00 to the SurviveHER nonprofit and to Lyndsay Levingston, whose strength and advocacy continue to inspire me.

Living Life Fearlessly

This past year has reminded me that life is short, precious, and fragile, but also full of joy, community, and purpose. I’m learning to live fearlessly: to laugh louder, love deeper, take that trip, cross that item off your bucket list and celebrate every small victory.

To anyone fighting their own battle right now:

Hold on to faith.

Surround yourself with people who uplift you, and if you don’t have anyone to lift you up, call me. I’m here. I am always available to empower, encourage, and inspire anyone that is in need.

Healing isn’t easy, but it is possible. Behind the scenes it can be a struggle and taking it one day at a time is key. Behind the scenes for me it has been hard and a long recovery. I’ve decided to just take it one day at a time.

Today, I celebrate not just surviving, but thriving.

I celebrate everyone walking this path of strength and resilience.
I am grateful.
I am strong.
I am free.

Thank you to everyone who has walked beside me on this journey and reminded me that love and community can heal in ways medicine never will.

Here’s to many more years of faith, purpose, and fearless living.

With gratitude,
Shaunise Day
Founder, Steno in the City