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
Lacee C.
A Life-Altering Diagnosis
Lacee C. was living the life she and her husband, David, had always envisioned. Thriving in their careers, the couple resided along the Florida coast and had recently begun exploring fertility assistance in hopes of starting their family. But everything changed when Lacee discovered a lump in her breast.
Initially dismissed by her doctor, she spent months pushing for answers before finally receiving a diagnosis: breast cancer.
In the three months it took to get a diagnosis, it never crossed my mind that I actually had cancer. But cancer upended every part of our lives: career plans, finances, and, most heartbreakingly, parenthood.
Navigating Cancer Treatment and Fertility Preservation
Faced with an aggressive treatment plan of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, Lacee and David had to make quick decisions about their future. Knowing that cancer treatments could impact her ability to conceive, they opted to freeze embryos before beginning treatment. However, the financial and emotional toll was immense.
We always knew we wanted kids and we got started a little later than planned. Cancer pushed that back even further. Suddenly, something we had assumed would just happen became this huge, complicated decision.
Amid the whirlwind of treatment, at only 31 years old Lacee was forced to reevaluate her career. The demands of her job became overwhelming, leading her to transition into a lower-responsibility role with a significant pay cut. On top of that, she and her husband made the difficult decision to leave Florida and move back to Missouri to be closer to family for support.
Embracing Motherhood After Cancer
Despite the obstacles Lacee faced throughout treatment, Lacee and David were undeterred in their pursuit of parenthood. Lacee’s first embryo transfer was successful, and they welcomed their son into the world in November 2022. The joy of becoming a mother, however, was layered with anxiety.
When Lacee’s son arrived, she realized she had spent so much time mentally preparing for the worst that she hadn’t fully prepared for the realities of motherhood. Balancing life as a new mother and a cancer survivor proved to be another challenge. Finding mental health support was difficult; professionals were booked months out, and accessing regular care required a relentless effort.
Finding Support Through the SAMFund Grant
As time passed, Lacee and her husband began considering growing their family.
Our dream has been to have two children. I applied for the EMF SAMFund grant when we had been going back and forth about when to try for another baby. We were so excited when we were awarded the grant and felt more certain about our path moving forward.
The SAMFund grant Lacee was awarded eased the financial burden of the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) process. The first IVF transfer was a success and they are expecting their second child in May. Lacee is grateful for the support of Expect Miracles Foundation for helping make their dream a reality.
Advocating for Survivors Navigating Parenthood
For Lacee, sharing her story is about more than reflecting on her own journey; it’s about supporting others who are facing similar challenges.
One of my biggest motivators is that it’s hard to find others who were diagnosed with cancer at a young age and still want to have kids. I want to be that person for someone else, the one who reminds them that there are resources and organizations that can help you reach your goals.
She hopes that by speaking out, more young cancer survivors will feel empowered to advocate for themselves and explore their options for building the future and family they’ve dreamed.
A Message to Other Young Survivors
To those struggling with the financial and emotional burden of cancer, fertility, and parenthood, Lacee encourages them not to be afraid to ask for help.
The emotional and financial toll of cancer itself is devastating, but knowing it is the reason you may not be able to have the family you always dreamed of makes it that much worse. Having the opportunity to worry less by getting financial and emotional support makes all the difference.
Lacee welcomed her second son in April, and shares that receiving a SAMFund grant made this possible. She is deeply grateful for Expect Miracles Foundation for providing the support her family needed at just the right time.
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.