Kellee Mulhern is just 42 years old. She will turn 43 on August 30.
In 2009, on her 40th birthday, she received the devastating news that she had breast cancer. After a left breast lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation, Kellee thought she had beaten the disease, and for two years, she lived cancer-free.
Just last month, Kellee was dealt the cruelest blow yet: The cancer had returned as Stage 4 breast cancer that has metastasize to her liver and lymph chest nodes.
With her only option now being chemotherapy to shrink the tumors, and with a 15% survival rate, Kellee wanted to take her personal battle public, in the hope she touches others who are in a similar situation.
Here, she shares her heartbreaking tale and the resulting ranges of emotions she is going through. And, she reveals where she is drawing her extraordinary strength from as she admits: “I do not want to die right now, I want to see my teenage girls grow up.”
We were going to do a write around, but we figured letting Kellee speak in her own words and describing how things played out was a better way of doing things. So, here are our questions and her subsequent answers.
Celebzter: How did you initially find out that you had breast cancer when you were 40? And how did it come about that it happened on your birthday?
Kellee: I felt a lump on the left side of my left breast. When I felt it, I got a sick feeling to my stomach ( like I knew). I went in for an ultrasound a few days before my Birthday. It looked so suspicious that they wanted to do a biopsy. I asked the Doctor during the painful biopsy if it was cancer? He just gave me a weird look. I said “So I have a tumor and you just don’t know if it is cancerous or not?”
He told me “yes”. But because of the blood supply in the tumor… I knew in my heart the verdict! I celebrated my Birthday that weekend in spite of the bad news. That following Monday they told me I had Ductal Carcinoma in Situ.
(Ed’s note: This is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer)
Celebzter: Were you feeling unwell leading up to this? What were your symptoms?
Kellee: I was depressed, and extremely tired! I had no pain physically… just pain in my heart, spiritually. I would take 3 hour naps and sleep 11 hours every night!
Celebzter: Have you always lived a relatively healthy life?
Kellee: Yes. I would eat healthy. However, I loved to drink wine every night and I used to smoke. I wanted to exercise more… but I was not very motivated to do so.
Celebzter: So upon that diagnosis, what happened back then?
Kellee: They performed surgery to take out my tumor. It was less than 2cm in size. They told me I had a very aggressive kind of cancer, so they wanted me to do chemo sessions and 33 sessions of radiation. I did all of that and finished my treatment at the end of March 2010. They gave me a clean bill of health and I went on with my life.
Celebzter: And then you were given the all-clear? That must have been one of the most amazing moments of your life?
Kellee: Yes it was. I participated in the Susan G Komen 3-Day. Raised $2300 to walk (10 girls on my team). It was a 60 mile walk in 3 days. God gave me a vision that I did not need to train… So I broke in my tennis shoes with 7 miles and that was the longest I walked. I walked the ENTIRE 3 days (except for about 6 miles the second, due to bad blisters cause it rained the first day). I had seen my VISION and trusted in God to help me. It was amazing.
Celebzter: And then you had two years of bliss?
Kellee: The first year was wonderful. I was very spiritual. Attending church every Sunday. I even performed a few healing sessions through God during that time!
I was doing God’s Work. Then the second year, I became depressed, negative, sad, guilty and basically self-condemned. The devil was back…filling my head with all that is evil. My back went out in January of this year and the pain made my feelings even worse!
Celebzter: And, then, last month, the unthinkable happened. How did you discovered the cancer had returned?
Celebzter: Mentally, how do you deal with that?
Kellee: I knew in my heart it was back. I demanded a sign from God upon going into my biopsy. In my bathroom, getting ready to leave. I saw the most magical violet flame/light on the left side of my head! It danced around my head. I felt at peace.
I later researched that Angels are the messengers of GOD! In Psalms 104:4 Angels are the messengers of the Lord…Servants of Fire. WOW. I found out that all Archangels have a color of the rainbow. For instance, Michael is Blue and Gabriel is Yellow. My Archangel is violet (purple) He is the Archangel of Mercy and brings peace, joy, harmony and healing. He turns all your negative energy into light! As I was telling everyone about my sign from GOD on Facebook, a white light came at me (seen only with the 3rd eye-the middle eye of the soul). I looked to see what Angel white was: It is JESUS himself!
I cried with relief…
Celebzter: What is your prognosis now?
Kellee: My worldly prognosis is 15% survival rate…
Celebzter: What steps do you need to take from here?
Kellee: Put ALL my trust and obedience in the Lord who promises to heal all diseases, if you believe that He is your lord and savior. I need to do my recommended chemo, pray for a miracle, live, laugh, and love everyone unconditionally. Because if we did not have Jesus…there would be NO love at all.
Celebzter: Is it ok, to ask you, are you scared? What frightens you the most?
Kellee: I am not scared. You see, when you have faith, you have peace. I and everyone that believes, has the gift of eternal life because God sent his only son “Jesus” to die for our sins.
I do not want to die right now…I want to see my teenage girls grow up and have children.
I want to travel more. But it is in God’s hands now. I trust he will do the best thing for me… because I love him and he loves me:)
Celebzter: What gives you hope and makes you laugh these days?
Kellee: In John 16:33 Jesus himself says that you will have trials and tribulations, but be of good cheer. I have to trust in his promises. I am a better person now, than I ever have been because of my suffering.
Celebzter: What advice can you give to other women out there who are facing the same battle?
Kellee: Surrender to the Lord! It is the only way. HE is the way, the truth and the light!
I would ask them to pray for all the Gifts of the Holy Spirit which I have received. Have faith and you will have his power!
Celebzter: What is the message you want to raise? And pre-cancer, was there anything you knew that could have given you any clues for what lay ahead?
Kellee: Turn to God and treat your body like a temple!
Celebzter: Define your idea of happiness pre-cancer and now?
Kellee: Pre-cancer, I was living for worldly pleasures (alcohol, smokes, sex,swearing, self-gratification).
I was a kind and caring person, just not living for God. Now, I am a servant of the Lord. I listen and obey. Therefore, with that power, I am more than happy. I’m not just happy temporarily, but I’m happy all the time:)
Celebzter: Lastly, what is your one wish in the world?
Kellee: For everyone to have the FAITH and TRUST in the LORD that I have.
So that every punishment or struggle is a blessing and NOT a curse. We receive our punishments as a gift from God, so that we will follow HIS path for us. GOD IS GOOD!
Stage 4 breast cancer, or advanced breast cancer, has metastasized to other tissue including bone tissue, lung tissue, or the liver.
What do you think?