Moira S., AK

On Aug. 8, 2020, my mom shared devastating news: A lung scan showed possible lung cancer. Marge Stoneking, then head of the American Lung Association in Alaska, directed me to the Lung Helpline and the Lung Association website—both of which were invaluable resources.

In September 2020, my mom underwent a lobectomy in her right lung, and her cancer was upstaged from 1A to 1C. She recovered slowly in our living room while my husband and I balanced working from home and homeschooling our kindergarten and sixth-grade children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Six months later, my father died from congestive heart failure after battling emphysema and COPD for two decades.

Two months after his passing, I woke up on my birthday to a text from my husband: My mom was experiencing significant pain. I took her to the hospital, where we learned her lung cancer had metastasized to stage 4. I was devastated as doctors delivered her prognosis—just 189 days to live.

I became her primary caregiver. Thanks to excellent radiation treatment at home in Juneau, she underwent first- and second-line chemotherapy and, thankfully, remained pain-free. In the end, she defied expectations, surpassing her prognosis by 20 days, before passing away on Dec. 29, 2021.

Because of advancements in lung cancer research and treatment, we were able to create cherished memories in her final months, including a bucket-list river cruise in Portugal—a mother-daughter trip I will always treasure.

As my brother and I cleaned out our parents’ home, I reflected on the remarkable people they were—professionals, community leaders, and theater enthusiasts. They raised two children who grew into successful adults. Since their passing, it has been heartbreaking to think about everything they have missed: our daughter studying abroad in Italy and performing in Godspell, and our son earning the nickname "SportsCenter" for his encyclopedic knowledge of mainstream sports.

I know firsthand the power of research in developing cutting-edge treatments for lung cancer, as well as the importance of educating people about when and how to get screened. Today, I am honored to serve on the American Lung Association’s Alaska Local Leadership Board, where I advocate for increased research, funding, and education so that families facing lung cancer can get the care they need.