Stories of Connection

Written by Taja Longley and Raquel Peters

Finding Healing in Connection.

“There’s nothing left to do but live.”

Diagnosed at 23 and now a 17-year breast cancer survivor, Gandieze Reckley stood confidently in front of our camera, wearing her absolute best-in-pink, and shared with the world the moment her entire outlook on life changed. 

“I vow to live until my time is up.”

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, ALIV surprised several members of Gennie Dean Cancer Support Group with floral arrangements and brand new Nokia cell phones. 

“Yes!” exclaimed a survivor, who had been yearning for a new phone to replace her old model. The room lit up with beaming faces and the women let out a in a series of cheers.

These women shared their incredible testimonies with us; we couldn’t help but notice that interwoven in each of their stories was the undeniable thread of finding healing in connection.

“I had a really strong family support,” said Gandieze. “I just had a lot of people around me that loved me…” 

In came Yolanda Huyler , a survivor of stage 3 breast cancer. She flashed a warm smile to the camera as she shared that she has been cancer-free for seven glorious years.

“Hallelujah!” she yelled, pumping her fists to the sky with her eyes closed tight, recalling the moment she walked out of that clinic, never having to turn back. We asked her what gave her the strength to embrace life so fervently after her diagnosis. 

“My faith. My family. My close friends that supported me,” Yolanda beamed, reflecting on allthe connections that kept her going through one of the hardest moments of her life.

Then stepped into frame the daughter of the late Dennie Dean.

“The caretaker feels the journey as much as the patient,” she offered, reflecting on what it means to be on the outside looking in. Duquesa D Dean didn’t understand her mother’s connection to the foundation at first, which was founded in 2012. This October marked 7 years since her mother, a hero to many women including Duquesa, passed away. 

“Sometimes it was hard to walk through the sorrow with her as it relates to being isolated,” Duquesa passionately explained. “There were times when she spoke about being in the home while she was recovering, and it seemed like the four walls would be closing in against her…” Yes, she was walking through the journey with her mother, yet she still had to face the trial and error of balancing caretaking and other parts of her own life – like her career. She described the rollercoaster of taking on every emotion as a caretaker, whether it was trauma from the pain or empowering glimmers of encouragement.  

“Those were some of the emotions. But at the end of it there was joy.” 

Today, Duquesa is the Vice President of the Gennie Dean Caring Support Group, building a community that extends their arms toward breast cancer fighters and survivors and offer unwavering support to live a full, vibrant life.

At ALIV, we truly believe that life is shaped by the connections we build and maintain. There is healing in connection. Whether it’s through a kind gesture, a shared experience, or staying close to a support system, these connections remind us daily why It’s Good to Be ALIV.