GRANTEE STORY: Meet Catrina 

Catrina and her husband were high school sweethearts. When they each left to serve in the Air Force, "He dumped me!" Catrina laughs. Years later, they happened to meet again at a friend's party. From there, they were married, got pregnant and decided to move to Monument to build a home for their family. "We thought we had an interesting story before cancer," Catrina says.

 

During pregnancy, Catrina expected to see changes in her body. But a marked swelling in her left breast became cause for concern. But as the swelling progressed, she knew she had to bring it up with her doctor.

The first doctor she saw told her she was just experiencing the types of hormonal changes to be expected with pregnancy. They drained the fluid and sent her on her way. But when the swelling returned days later, she knew she needed a second opinion.
The second doctor with whom she met knew that these were not just the types of changes to be expected with pregnancy. Catrina was diagnosed with stage three tumor in her breast.

During her pregnancy she underwent the chemotherapy she could receive without compromising her baby's health. And three weeks before her son was born, she had a mastectomy.

Sense of Security was able to help Catrina with her grocery bills. "Between my tremendous medical expenses, our regular living expenses and the new expenses that have come with our baby, it was an enormous help," she says.

 

Catrina is still undergoing treatment. But her eyes are set toward the future. "My main concern at this point is my family. But beyond that, I am going back to school at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. I plan to work in energy law. “
Indeed, between Catrina's service to the Air Force, motherhood, and fight through breast cancer, she does have an interesting story. And thanks to the treatment she has received, help from Sense of Security, and her personal strength, her story is not over.