Monday, January 12, 2026

There are Good Days and Bad Days and Many In Between When Fighting Cancer

Cancer is a club you never want to belong to, but you find the most amazing people when you do. Erica Campbell has a group of women who bonded over their breast cancer journey.

Together they know what it means to face illness head-on -- to confront mortality, search for strength, and build the resilience required to move forward.

As a breast cancer survivor who also lost her mother to the disease, Erica speaks the 'vocabulary of cancer' from multiple perspectives. In her debut memoir, The Mastectomy I Always Wanted, she pairs honesty and vulnerability with practical, compassionate guidance for anyone navigating the mastectomy experience.  

Erica Campbell


You Are Not Alone

At first it may feel like you are walking this path by yourself, but in time you will attract the people meant to support you and walk beside you. It may take a while, but some people care and want to help. Be intentional and rigorous in seeking out those you need. Knowledge is power, and community is contagious.

Small Steps Create Hope
“Sometimes during my journey, I allowed myself 24 hours to fully feel sadness or grief. After that, I made myself do anything that felt like the next right thing. Even tiny actions—brushing my hair, taking a walk around the block—gave me a sense of accomplishment. When self‑pity crept in, I quieted my mind and listened for the small inner voice guiding my next step. I learned that even the smallest amount of patience and progress can create hope.”



An instant Amazon Best Seller in Breast Cancer, General Women’s Health, and Genetic Health!

In this breast cancer book for women, Erica Neubert Campbell shares an intimate and encouraging story of her double mastectomy journey. This is a powerful companion guide for women navigating the choice to have a mastectomy or a lumpectomy. Empower yourself with this supportive resource to build trust and resilience–from the day you are diagnosed to the moment you realize: “I got this.”

Choosing a mastectomy is more than losing your original breasts. It is about the power of self-discovery, personal choice, and mindset. In this book you will learn that removing fear is just as important as removing cancer. Women and caregivers will understand that a double mastectomy is an outer journey of physical change and an inner journey of mental strength.

“Are you okay with seeing my breasts?”

Before her double mastectomy, a friend showed Erica her reconstructed breasts—and it changed everything. This rare moment of vulnerability allowed Erica to visualize the future and shift to a more hopeful perspective.

Erica now pays this act forward with a candid and uplifting portrait of the mastectomy journey.

Whether you are making your choice following a breast cancer diagnosis or a discovery of the BRCA gene, this mastectomy memoir will encourage you to trust yourself, accept your new body, and build resilience through tough times. Caregivers will gain a deeper understanding of the emotions of the diagnosis that are otherwise hard to describe.

In this resource, discover:      

  • Empowering mastectomy book for women recently diagnosed with breast cancer or carrying the BRCA gene      
  • Over fifty candid photos of the mastectomy recovery experience      
  • Honest and authentic emotions around the challenges of a breast cancer diagnosis      
  • Inspiration and tools for building strength in the double mastectomy journey      
  • Insights for breast cancer caregivers, family, and friends—granting them the power to support their loved one with compassion and understanding


Erica Neubert Campbell, breast cancer survivor and longtime cancer advocate, shares this mastectomy memoir to provide healing and hope. The Mastectomy I Always Wanted is a must-read for women who are determined to rebuild their lives stronger than ever.

If you’re seeking a source of breast cancer inspiration as you explore a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, read this book.


Connect with Erica Here


Website


Instagram


Linkedin


Facebook



Friday, January 2, 2026

How to Turn Your Disability to Ability and Soar Above Circumstances

When Jenna Udenberg was fifteen, she had a suicide plan due to tough medical issues and severe physical pain from her arthritis. She lived in bed. But she pulled herself from those very dark, tough times to become an inspiration to many who suffer from disabilities.

Jenna Udenberg is a former music educator of 19 years. She has used a manual wheelchair since the age of eight due to Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Jenna is a 2017 Blandin Foundation Community Leader, a 2020 Bush Fellow, and a 2025 Shannon Leadership Institute Fellow.

Writing for the Lake County Press in her column, "Local View from 4 foot 2, inspires vulnerability and the sharing of lived experiences from a seated perspective.

Jenna Udenberg


In her interview, Jenna shared how she went from feeling hopeless to inspiring anyone who may be struggling with life-changing circumstances beyond their control.  

Why is disability not a bad word?

● Going beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act code matters, as we are not a checklist.

● Why are accessibility and inclusion important?

● How did you overcome daily challenges?

BUY JENNA'S BOOK HERE

Within My Spokes


Life is always beautiful, no matter what it looks like, because of the tapestry of relationships and people.

Make it colorful and unique.

Within My Spokes is a collection of Jenna Udenberg’s life stories and the relationships that create her tapestry. From her childhood diagnosis of Juvenile Arthritis at age seven, Jenna fought through long journeys of medical battles, broken systems, discrimination, and ignorance. Jenna is a 2020 Bush Fellow and a disability advocate, activist, and accessibility educator. Readers have laughed and cried as they dug deeper into her shared life stories. This is a coming-of-age book about finding oneself, one’s purpose, and worth, sometimes through the most unlikely of relationships and circumstances.

Within these stories, you will be taken on a journey of:

  • Persevering and thriving through life’s unexpected adventures
  • Timely friendships create safe, inclusive, and healthy spaces
  • Healing (physical, spiritual, emotional) through the hurt of one’s past
  • Faith

Though our stories may be different, you may relate to experiences in this book of pain, growth, and freedom that could help you on your journey.

Jenna Udenberg grew up on the beautiful North Shore of Lake Superior. She is a disability advocate and accessibility educator. Jenna’s newspaper column, Local View from 4’ 2”, can be found in the Lake County Press. She loves working with others, including her non-profit, Above & Beyond With U.

CONNECT WITH JENNA HERE

Instagram

Facebook 

Linkedin 

Non-profit