Amy Harper

2020 Courage Ride Patient Honoree

Amy Harper’s life was full. She had recently married a widower with two beautiful daughters, whom she later adopted. She was adjusting to a new job. But then a nagging knee pain turned into a stunning diagnosis: Amy had chondroblastic osteosarcoma. She underwent three months of chemotherapy and then surgery to remove the tumor. It was very slow progress to rehabilitate her leg, and then Amy had to resume chemotherapy just weeks after surgery. She had to learn to walk again, which was a frustrating, painful, and humbling experience. Several weeks after surgery, Amy learned that the chemotherapy had only caused 5% necrosis of the tumor. The end-date of her chemotherapy was moved up, since the treatment was not as effective as hoped. While Amy was relieved to be done with treatment, she was nervous about the cancer returning.

However, with the passing of each follow-up visit and scan with clear results, Amy became more and more confident and found it easier to enjoy each day without thinking of the “what ifs”. She and her husband decided to resume their plans for adding more children to their family. Unfortunately, Amy discovered that one of the side effects of her chemotherapy treatments was the inability to bear children. It was a heartbreaking blow.

Amy and her husband decided to pursue adoption and were in the midst of making plans for adopting a baby when Amy received news at a follow-up visit - there was a concerning spot on each of her lungs. She would have to have surgery to have the spot on her right lung removed and if it was cancer, she would have to have surgery for the left lung as well. But the surgeon felt that he could complete both surgeries with enough time for Amy to recover and go through with the adoption as planned.

It was confirmed that the spot in the right lung was cancer, so Amy had to undergo a second surgery just nine days after the first. It was a difficult, slow recovery, but at her first postoperative visit, Amy learned that the although the spot in her right lung was cancerous, the spot in the left lung was not.

When it came time to meet the baby they were about to adopt, Amy and her family faced another crushing blow when the adoption fell through.

In October of 2019, Amy returned for follow-up and scans and received good news that everything was good. One week later, Amy and her husband found out that a 2-day old baby boy needed a home and they had been chosen as adoptive parents!

Amy says, “Being a mom to two teen girls and a baby has been far more fulfilling than I ever dreamed. At least 3 times - diagnosis, chemo effects, and recurrence - cancer tried to stop me from having a baby. My family is not going to let cancer dictate what we do. When I look into the eyes of my children, when I sing them to sleep or nuzzle that little baby neck, when I change diapers or cook meals for them, I declare victory over cancer. Every memory my husband and I weave into their childhood is proof that cancer will not win. I can’t guarantee that I will be here to see them grow up and have their own children. What I can guarantee is that cancer won’t ruin the time I have on earth. I spend each day pouring my love into my husband and kids - treasuring them, laughing with them, teaching them, serving them, showing them that our life is meant for spreading God’s love to everyone we encounter. It is a great honor to be living in victory over cancer.”