Glenda was first diagnosed with vulvar cancer on January 31, 2022, and again on August 23, 2024. She wishes someone had shared the warning signs with her earlier—both diagnoses came as a complete surprise.

Soon after her diagnosis, Glenda was grateful to discover Cancer Lifeline. Her mother had passed away from lymphoma on December 18, 1984, and it was her friend Georgie who first introduced her to the organization. Georgie explained that because of her mother’s cancer journey, Glenda would be welcomed at Cancer Lifeline. She even invited her to a Reading with Rover event, where Glenda met one of the staff members, Basha. Not long after, Georgie passed away from cancer—news that came as a heartbreaking shock, as she hadn’t known Georgie was terminal. Glenda needed time to process the loss before returning to the community.

In 2018, Glenda joined the Cancer Lifeline writing class Writing for the Moment at the Norse Home. On her first day, she learned that Georgie had been a cherished member of that very class. The warmth and love the group still held for Georgie made Glenda feel an immediate connection.

“When I was later diagnosed with cancer, I knew that this class would be the place where I could speak my full truth without needing to hold anything back.”

Over the years, Glenda has taken many meaningful classes in writing, art, and nutrition. One of her favorite creative activities is submitting poems and prose to the Northwest Collage Society, where artists turn her words into visual collages as a fundraiser for Cancer Lifeline. She has contributed to ten of these special collages so far and was deeply honored when one of her poems was featured on Cancer Lifeline’s Valentine’s Day card.

Today, Glenda is proud to be part of the Cancer Lifeline community and supports it in every way she can.