Meet the runners who will be representing Expect Miracles Foundation and raising funds for our mission at the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon on November 1.
FOUNDATION SPONSOR
Jennifer B.
Finding Hope and Family with the Support of EMF’s SAMFund Grant
Jennifer B., a 34-year-old registered nurse, has always dreamed of starting a family. She met her husband, Erik, at just 19 years old, and together they spent the next decade focused on building their nursing careers. Just as they were preparing to begin their journey toward parenthood, their lives took an unexpected turn in 2021 when Jennifer was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.
A Life-Altering Diagnosis
Jennifer and her husband, both dedicated frontline workers during the pandemic, were just beginning their journey toward parenthood when she was diagnosed.
We had been trying to start a family for only a couple of months when I got the news. Building a family has always been a top priority for us. We could never have anticipated that cancer would become part of our journey.
Jennifer’s treatment plan included six rounds of chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and immunotherapy. As she transitioned into survivorship, Jennifer faced a daunting reality: the cancer treatments that saved her life made starting a family far more complex and costly. The aggressive treatment drastically reduced her fertility.
The Fertility Journey
Determined to overcome these challenges, Jennifer and her husband embarked on the difficult path of in vitro fertilization (IVF). They completed eight IVF cycles, enduring significant physical and emotional strain, as well as large out-of-pocket expenses. Jennifer’s medical knowledge as a nurse helped her navigate the process, but the costs were overwhelming. Like many others, they initially believed insurance would cover more of the expenses. However, they quickly realized how much they would need to pay out of pocket. This led them to question how long they could realistically continue before being forced to stop.
Infertility, in many ways, has been even harder to process than the cancer diagnosis. There are so many unknowns, and it’s a different kind of emotional toll.
Discovering EMF and the SAMFund Grants
Jennifer first learned about EMF’s SAMFund through a breast cancer support group. Desperate for resources, she had spent countless hours online searching for financial assistance programs. For Jennifer and Erik, EMF felt like a lifeline. Jennifer received two SAMFund Family Building Grants; one in Spring 2023 and another in Fall 2024. These grants helped cover the costs of fertility treatment, alleviating much of the financial burden, and making them feel like someone cared about their journey to parenthood. Despite setbacks, Jennifer remains steadfast in her hope to build a family.
Without EMF’s support, we wouldn’t have been able to pursue all our options. The grants gave us the ability to keep trying without the fear of financial ruin.
Finding Strength and Gratitude
Jennifer credits her support system – her husband, family, and community – for keeping her motivated through the challenges of cancer and infertility. She’s also grateful for the SAMFund grant, which has not only provided financial relief but also emotional encouragement during a time when hope has sometimes been hard to hold onto.
What I expected is completely different from where we are now, but we’re still so hopeful. Even if our family looks different than we imagined, we know it will be worth it.
Looking Ahead
Jennifer and her husband are committed to expanding their family, no matter how unconventional the journey may be. For Jennifer, her experiences with cancer and infertility have not only shaped her perspective on life but also deepened her empathy as a nurse. Jennifer’s story is one of resilience, hope, and the transformative power of support. Thanks to EMF’s SAMFund grant, she and her husband can continue to pursue their dream of starting a family while finding peace in knowing they are not alone on this journey. As Jennifer puts it, “Expect Miracles gave us the chance to keep going when we didn’t know how we could. For that, we’ll always be grateful.”
About EMF’s SAMFund Grant Program
Due to the high costs associated with treatment and survivorship, young adults experience financial toxicity at a greater level than any other age group. SAMFund grants help to alleviate the financial burden resulting from cancer treatment. Thank you to donors for supporting EMF’s SAMFund Grant Program. Because of your generosity, we are helping young adult cancer survivors build bridges to help them get where they were intended to go before cancer disrupted their lives.
What SAMFund Grant Recipients Say
Make Miracles
Join us in the fight against cancer and be part of the community that is making miracles happen today. Your donation is an investment in our Research and Discovery Funds, which invests in life-saving cancer research, and EMF’s SAMFund, which provides financial assistance for young adult cancer survivors.
Get Involved
Every dollar we raise brings us closer to a world free from the grip of cancer. But we can’t do it alone. Join us in this life saving journey. No matter who you are, where you come from, you have a place at Expect Miracles Foundation. Cancer knows no boundaries, and neither does our mission. Stand alongside us in the fight against cancer.
Make Miracles
Join us in the fight against cancer and be part of the community that is making miracles happen today. Your donation is an investment in our Innovation and Discovery Funds, which invests in life-saving cancer research, and EMF’s SAMFund, which provides financial assistance for young adult cancer survivors.
Invest in Hope
Corporate sponsors lead our life-saving mission and gain access to influential business networking opportunities at EMF events, which range from galas to golf tournaments and more. As a sponsor you can cultivate relationships in the financial services industry while having a life-changing impact on the cancer community.