Courtney Currie Simmons

Courtney Currie Simmons learned her mother had ovarian cancer when the youngest of her three daughters was a baby. For the next 12 years, her mother would have her cancer clear, reoccur, then metastasize before she died of the disease.

“I was nearly 40 when she died,” Courtney said. “I don't think one is ever ready to lose a parent, but that felt unfair, too soon.”

Courtney, who is the Principal and Owner of Inclusive Insight Group, shared that her mom was in and out of treatment then slowly slipped away after all options were exhausted.

While she did not use specific services from the American Cancer Society, Courtney said she wishes she would have, as this kind of loss is hard on both the patient and family, as well as caregivers.

“My mom was a day-at-a-time person, but it didn’t allow for some of the conversations and support I could have used as a caregiver,” she said. “Perhaps she could have also used support as she sought to accept our new reality.”

It’s Courtney’s hope that research will identify solutions to detect ovarian cancer sooner and improve outcomes for the diagnosis.

“We were lucky we got 12 years with her, most don’t make it past five,” she said. “But the gaping hole in my life, it doesn’t feel like luck.”

Courtney is mother to three brilliant, independent daughters and has two cats—Sherlock and Oscar. She loves time outside and being in or on the water, as well as reading, traveling and time with family and friends.