My daughter, Courtney, was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer after a surgery for a colectomy. It was a 10-hour surgery on Valentines Day 2017. I was with my husband, her stepfather, when the surgeon had a consult with us. I was devastated how this could happen. She had a baby boy by c-section just two years previously. She had an awful time getting the wound to heal but by no means did I ever think it was cancer!

She fought courageously for three years before passing at age 30 – just 2 weeks before her 31st birthday.

Get checked the sooner the better. My daughter told me so many times, “If I had only seen the doctor sooner!” It was her biggest regret!