In 2020, Stephanie Snyder was 36 years old and managing Ulcerative Colitis. As part of her ongoing care, she needed a routine colonoscopy to renew her medication. Her doctor told her she could wait until April to have the procedure done. But for some reason, she immediately asked, “Can I do it before the end of the year so it falls under this deductible?”
The strange part is she didn’t even have a deductible to meet.
“To this day, I don’t know why I said it, but that one decision changed everything,” she said. “By moving my colonoscopy up about five months, my doctors discovered my cancer in a very early stage.”
A few days later, her doctor called her after hours, and the moment she saw the call, she knew it was not the kind of call doctors make when everything is fine.
“My cancer journey was aggressive and fast. From diagnosis to the end of treatment was less than six months,” Stephanie said. “During that time, I underwent four major surgeries, including the removal of my entire colon. There was barely enough time to process one step before moving on to the next. Every appointment seemed to bring another decision, another procedure, or another challenge to overcome.
“Like so many people facing cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic, I was also navigating isolation at a time when I needed support the most. One of the hardest moments came the week before my first surgery when my daughter tested positive for COVID. We had to stay apart, and I couldn’t even see her before heading into a major operation.”
As difficult as those months were, Stephanie was never alone.
“The American Cancer Society became an incredible source of support,” she said. “They helped arrange at-home care for the IV treatments I needed, which meant I didn’t have to leave home or figure out transportation during the height of the pandemic. Their assistance eased a burden that my family and I were already struggling to carry. I was also fortunate to be surrounded by an amazing network of family and friends who showed up in countless ways, big and small. Their support helped me through some of my darkest days. But the person who impacted me most was my teenage daughter.”
As a parent, Stephanie said, you never want your child to have to take care of you, and looking back, she can’t imagine what it was like for her daughter to watch her go through cancer treatments, surgeries, and recovery.
“Yet she was there every step of the way,” she said. “Her strength, love, and support gave me courage when I needed it most. I truly don’t know how I would have made it through without her.”
Now, Stephanie often participates in Relay For Life events. Being surrounded by survivors, caregivers, families, and advocates reminds her that no one walks this journey alone. There is something powerful about connecting with people who understand the fear, uncertainty, hope, and gratitude that come with a cancer diagnosis.
“When I reflect on my story, I keep coming back to that one seemingly insignificant moment: asking to move up a routine colonoscopy,” she said. “A decision that didn’t even make logical sense at the time ended up saving my life. Cancer changed me in ways I never expected. It taught me about resilience, gratitude, and the incredible strength we can find in ourselves and in the people who love us. Most of all, it reminded me that every day is a gift, and I am thankful for every one of them.”
Photos courtesy of Stephanie Snyder.