Alyssa Schiller Hermiston, Oregon United States Amazon Heart Thunder United States 2008 New Rider Click Here to Donate Now!

Let's see my name is Alyssa, I have 3 amazing children & a great husband who I have been married to for 14 yrs. We live in eastern Oregon, and have ran our own business for the last 11 yrs. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March of 2005, I was 29.

Hearing those 3 words- "you have cancer," unlike the more popular three little words, that made your heart skip a beat when you hear them from the person that you want to spend the rest of your life with, or melt your heart when you hear them from your children. Your heart is broken and it seems at that moment your life flashes before your eyes. Not only memories, but the memories that you are no longer going to be a part of making.

Well...as devastating as the news was, I spent about 5 minutes (maybe 10) crying & feeling sorry for myself, and decided that that wasn't going to be the approach I was going to take. Having had more than the usual experience with losing loved ones, my brothers, sister & I lost our father when he was 29 to GI trac cancer, and our mom passed away a year later in a car accident. I lost my mother-in-law to brain cancer just 9 short months after she was diagnosed, and had never met grandparents due to their own early deaths. I was determined that I was not only going to survive- but thrive.

Under the advice of a great friend, Kris (thank you), we sought medical treatment about 180 miles from our home at OHSU in Portland OR. I underwent a bi-lateral mastectomy, node removal (4) positive- 8 rounds of chemo, 6 weeks of radiation & ovary removal all before my 30th birthday.

My sister picked up and moved across the country to help me. Kris drove me the 3 hours each way to all of my chemo appts. It was a long year but now it is 3 yrs later, and we haven't looked back.

My husband & 2 brothers purchased their bikes over Labor Day weekend, after years of talking about it. I instantly felt envious, as did my sister-in-law Denisse. We soon tired of riding on the back and made it our goal to get our own bikes. So that is exactly what we did. I have a beautiful Sportster Custom, and after logging countless miles practicing in a parking lot (thanks Bill), and taking a 3 day safety course & obtaining my endorsement - I'm starting to watch the miles tick away on my odometer. And it is a beautiful sight!

Never in my widest dreams could I have imagined finding a group like amazon heart, I found it to be such a struggle to find a place where I felt I fit in. Reading the bios of all the amazing survivors I kept finding myself saying - "I've said the exact same thing." The ride & the Amazon Heart organization embodies our motto that my family has adopted - not living in fear of dying, but live in fear of not ever really living.

Thank You- Heath- for loving me hair or no hair, boobs or no boobs.
Thank You- Whitley, Troy & Deano- for making me proud to be your mom everyday.
Thank You-Travis, T.L. & Amanda- for unconditional love, the way families should be.
Thank You- Kris, Carrie & Angie- for not only being my best friends, but being my best cheerleaders.
Thank You- Bill & Susan- for your helping make me a safe & skilled rider, and reach my goal to ride in Sept.
Thank You- OHSU- I wouldn't be here without you (seriously!) Thank You- to all my family & friends for your love, and positive energy.

I cannot stress enough the importance of taking every lump seriously, and being an active advocate of your own health. No matter what your age or family history.

Please join me in supporting this awesome group of women who are not just survivors, but surviving warrior princess style!

SUPPORT SURVIVORS- SUPPORT A CURE!!

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