Tennille - Pink Boxing Gloves

At 41, Tennille went from setting up surgical trays for breast cancer reconstruction to sitting on the other side of the operating table with a diagnosis of her own. After twenty-five years as a surgical technologist, she recognized the warning signs before anyone had to tell her. What followed was a whirlwind of scans, bloodwork, chemotherapy, radiation, multiple surgeries, and the long road of learning what it means to become the patient.In this conversation, Tennille shares what it was like to navigate a Stage IIB, HER2-positive breast cancer diagnosis as a single mother raising her nine-year-old daughter. She opens up about the parts of survivorship people rarely talk about: recovering between surgeries, delayed radiation burns, body image after mastectomy and reconstruction, chronic fatigue, joint pain, and the emotional weight of living in a body that no longer feels familiar.We also explore the role of faith in suffering, the courage it took to tell her daughter she had cancer, and how prayer, hope, and community carried her through the darkest moments. Today, Tennille mentors other women facing cancer, is writing the book she believes God gave her during her journey, and is turning one of the hardest seasons of her life into a source of encouragement for others.Whether you've faced cancer, another life-changing diagnosis, or simply walked through a season that changed you, this conversation is a reminder that healing isn't about pretending life goes back to the way it was. Sometimes healing is learning that your scars don't just tell the story of what happened—they tell the story of what you've survived.If this episode encouraged you, consider sharing it with someone who needs a little hope today.Contact Valerie Support the showRemember YOU are loved and worthy of being witnessed!If today’s episode stirred heavy feelings, you are not alone. Please reach out to a trusted friend or a professional if you need support:National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) | rainn.orgSAMHSA Mental Health/Substance Use: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)988 LIFELINE: Call, Text or Chat https://988lifeline.orgVeterans Crisis Line: Dial or text 988, then press 1Help for Veterans suffering with CPTSD https://saveawarrior.org/https://www.scarsfoundation.org/*This podcast is not therapy. If you’re in immediate danger, please call 911 or your local emergency number.Want to tell your story? Send a DM or an emailFind us on IG @defiance_of_silence_podcast    [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/defiance_of_silence_podcast?igsh=MWVxMHI3OXY1cm1paA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr