In November 2019, Rhonda Anderson was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Before beginning her treatment, she took a vacation with her girlfriends. “I needed to take time to decompress and prepare myself for the journey ahead,” she says.

A few weeks later, the coronavirus pandemic arrived. While few people were prepared for COVID-19, Rhonda had already reframed her perspective. “COVID-19 didn’t have to happen for me to be careful. I’m already cautious because I’m carrying this other disease.”

Staying safe while immunocompromised means sometimes being lonely. But her daughters and grandchildren stay in touch from a safe distance, her faith-based community and prayer keep her strong, and the staff at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center are with her every step of the way.

“Everybody has a role, and once I get to the end of my race, then I can look back and see all the people who were part of my journey. I’ll never forget them.”

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