“If you know something’s wrong, don’t give up.”
Cancer wasn’t what one Bringing Hope Home Family expected to find after committing to a healthier lifestyle.
In this Story of Hope interview with Bringing Hope Home Family Involvement Coordinator Kim Rabago, she shares how trusting her instincts ultimately led to an ovarian cancer diagnosis, why self-advocacy became one of the most important parts of her journey, and how the support she received helped her focus on healing.
Watch her full story below.
At the beginning of 2025, she made a promise to herself to focus on her health. Motivated by her grandson and determined to be there for her family, she began exercising, eating healthier, and preparing for knee replacement surgery. As the weight began coming off, something didn’t feel right.
Despite losing weight everywhere else, her abdomen continued to grow and felt unusually firm. When initial appointments suggested there was nothing to worry about, she continued speaking up.
“I kept complaining,” she recalled. “I said, ‘There is something wrong.'”
Further testing eventually revealed fluid buildup and a six-inch tumor on her ovary. She was diagnosed with Stage III ovarian cancer.
Although the diagnosis came as a shock, she faced treatment with remarkable resilience. Before beginning chemotherapy, she gathered family members for a head-shaving party and donated her hair to Wigs for Kids, turning one of the hardest moments of her journey into an opportunity to help someone else.
Throughout treatment, financial stress became another challenge. Unable to continue working while undergoing chemotherapy, she worried about covering her monthly expenses while waiting for her home to sell.
Through our Light of Hope Family Program, Bringing Hope Home helped ease that burden with financial assistance and grocery gift cards, allowing her to continue purchasing nutritious foods that supported her health during treatment.
Looking back, the lesson she hopes others take from her experience is simple:
“If you know something’s wrong, don’t give up.”
She encourages others to trust themselves, continue asking questions, and advocate for their own health—even when the answers aren’t immediate.
Her story is a reminder that listening to your body, speaking up, and accepting support can make all the difference.