Triumph Over Cancer – Stories of Resilience and Support – Part 4
BY
Chalese Leven, Anywhere Integrated Services
.
October 10, 2023
Amanda Lingle - Title Services Representative - Guardian Transfer
At 32 years old, Amanda Lingle received a diagnosis that would alter the course of her life: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. The shock of discovering breast cancer at such a young age, without any family history of the disease, left her reeling. The suddenness of it all compounded by the holiday season left her grappling with a whirlwind of emotions.
“On December 26th (yep, the day after Christmas), I met with my new oncology surgeon to go over details and come up with a plan. She told me I had stage 3c, triple negative breast cancer,” Amanda recounts.
The path ahead would be arduous, requiring immense physical and emotional strength. “During that time, COVID-19 had shut down the country, leaving me alone to do my treatments, as no “buddy” could come with me to appointments or infusions,” she said.
An Unwavering Network of Support
Amid the isolation brought about by the pandemic, Amanda found solace in her workplace community. Her coworkers rallied around her with unwavering support, even though they couldn't be by her side physically.
“I was lucky enough to have not only wonderful co-workers who supported me every step of the way, but also a great short term medical leave policy that allowed me to not stress about money while I was in treatment.”
Triumph Over Adversity
Amanda's journey involved multiple phases of treatment. She endured 14 rounds of chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy, and a six-week recovery period. The challenges of treatment were met with her tenacity and the kindness of her colleagues.
“I officially ended my treatments on September 24th, 2020. I continued to see my oncologist every 3-4 for the next three years and just hit my three-year cancer free mark in July of this year.” Amanda's return to work in August of that year marked not only her official cancer-free status but also the continuation of her role as a title service representative.
How a Company Can Provide Holistic Support
Amanda expresses appreciation for the support she received from her team during her battle with Stage 3c Triple Negative Breast cancer.
“After my first round of treatment completely kicked my butt and left me very very bald, and trying to work as usual, my boss and I decided it would be best if I took some time off to let myself heal properly, as well as not risk being infected with COVID. I was lucky enough to have not only wonderful co-workers who supported me every step of the way, but also a great short term medical leave policy that allowed me to not stress about money while I was in treatment,” she said.
Amanda was given the amount of time that she needed to receive her treatments and to heal from what she had gone through. Looking back at this time, she says “I could not have gotten through such a terrifying and stressful time in my life so easily if I did not work for this company.”
A Journey Beyond Cancer
Amanda's story is a testament to her strength and the remarkable community at Guardian Transfer she continues to be a part of. As she celebrated her three-year cancer-free milestone in July, her future looks brighter than ever. Although she will have to continue to see her oncologist on a regular basis, Amanda looks at this next phase of life with a renewed sense of gratitude.
Reflecting on her journey, she says, “The support that I received from pretty much everyone I worked with made me feel so lucky. I will forever be grateful for everyone helping me through that incredibly difficult process.”
Anywhere Integrated Services is proud to support people like Amanda, who have demonstrated courage and resilience and continue to bring their perspectives to their role. They continue to be a source of inspiration for the entire Anywhere Integrated Services family of companies. Look out for more on each of their journeys throughout the month. We also understand that not every battle is won, so we send our heartfelt condolences to anyone who has lost a loved one to cancer.
Note: All participating employees fully consented to share their stories with the public.
