A Letter from Kim: From One Parent To Another
Kesley and Blythe’s mom, on loving your daughters through the unthinkable, twice.
ABOUT THIS LETTER
As mothers, we dream of watching our children thrive. Growing into the fullness of their potential, charting their own beautiful paths.
Nothing prepares you for the moment that vision is interrupted.
For me, that interruption came like a lightning bolt. Not once, but twice. Within just over a year, both of my daughters were diagnosed with cancer.
THE CALL
Kesley had been dealing with sharp pain in her armpit for months. Despite having the BRCA1 gene on her father’s side and a strong family history of early breast cancer, doctors dismissed her because of her age. She was told she was too young for a mammogram.
You will be fine, they said. It took relentless advocacy to finally get her screened.
When she called me after her appointment, her voice cracked through her sobs. “Triple negative breast cancer, Mommy.”
The floor fell out from under me.
I tried to stay composed, but we both cried so hard over that Zoom call, paralyzed by fear, disbelief, and heartbreak. Due to the pandemic, I was in Washington State during the first month of her chemotherapy. My daughters were in Los Angeles and the miles felt like I was on the moon. Literally.
Almost exactly a year later, just as Kesley was approaching her milestone of finishing treatment, Blythe began experiencing intense abdominal pain. A trip to the ER revealed ovarian cancer. I immediately was on the next flight out for her surgery scheduled for the day before Christmas Eve, less than a week from her diagnosis.
That second call left me spinning. I could hardly breathe. The emotional toll of facing this again, let alone so soon, was absolutely unbearable.
MY DAUGHTERS
Kesley is my gentle, globe-trotting spirit. The one who always finds beauty in life, even in pain. She lives with a grace that touches everyone she meets.
Blythe is driven with cool fire and passion. An actress with a vibrant spirit and a fierce creative drive. She was booking roles up until her surgery, pouring her emotions into her craft even as cancer loomed.
To witness both of them face these diagnoses, so young, so full of life, was surreal and deeply painful.
But it also revealed their strength in ways I had never imagined.
WHAT I CARRIED
Cancer does not just affect the person diagnosed. It engulfs the entire family. I cycled through every emotion: fear, anger, helplessness, guilt.
I wanted to be strong for them, to carry their burdens. But there were moments I cried quietly at night, feeling like I was drowning in grief. I wanted to take it from them. I said it out loud: let me take it on. Let them live. Please. And yet, glimmers of hope appeared.
Kesley immersed herself in research, determined to understand and own every part of her experience. Blythe channeled her strength into healing and creativity, filming a movie in Oklahoma one month after surgery.
Together, they reminded me that resilience and beauty can coexist, even in the darkest times.
WHAT IT DID TO OUR FAMILY
Our family dynamic shifted dramatically. Cancer became a part of our vocabulary, our routines, our every decision. But rather than break us, it brought us closer than we already were.
We revived sunset watching outings and family dinners. We made room for laughter. We talked openly about our fears, which gave us collective strength. Still, there were moments when I felt torn.
How could I possibly be fully present for both of my daughters when each needed something different? Kesley underwent intense chemo, surgery, and radiation. Blythe had to prepare for surgery within weeks, over Christmas weekend.
Each experience was unique, and I often found myself navigating between heartbreak and hope.
WHAT THEY BUILT
Today, both of my daughters are survivors, and they have transformed their pain into purpose. Together, they launched The Chemo Queens, a resource built from their firsthand experiences to support others navigating cancer.
From free guides to heartfelt encouragement, their mission is to be the support system they needed when they needed it most. I could not be prouder of the women they are and what they have built.
TO EVERY PARENT WALKING THIS ROAD
This journey through cancer with my daughters has been the hardest season of my life. And also the most profound.
It revealed how deeply we can love, how resilient we truly are, and how important it is to stay present in the face of uncertainty.
To every parent walking this road: you are not alone.
There is strength in showing up, and beauty in the love that keeps you there.
With love, hope, and gratitude,
Kim
Kesley and Blythe’s Mom
