Support Vivica's Fight Against Cancer

I’m pleading for everyone to wrap Vivica, Caleb, and the boys in your arms and let them feel our love and support. This beautiful, young family is facing a difficult time and need our support.

The life update I never thought I’d be sharing… I apologize for the long post, but I don’t know how else to deliver this news, and I hope you'll read it all the way through.

On 10/19, I gave birth to our beautiful baby boy, and life was pure bliss. A few days after we got home, as I was putting our toddler to sleep, I felt some soreness in my shoulder. I rubbed it and discovered a large bump in my neck, which immediately worried me. I had just had a massage, so I knew it couldn’t be a knot. I called my primary care doctor and managed to get an appointment just over two weeks later, on 11/14.

At my appointment, my primary care physician felt the bump and surrounding areas and ordered an ultrasound to investigate further. On 11/18, the ultrasound revealed an 8 cm mass in my neck, encasing my carotid artery and extending into my chest. I was referred for a CT scan of my neck and chest to determine how extensive the mass was. Fortunately, my doctor got me in for the CT scan two days later, on 11/20. The results showed that the mass was encasing major blood vessels and causing deviation of my esophagus and trachea. It also extended into my chest, so I was advised to undergo additional CT scans of my chest and abdomen.

On 11/21, my primary care physician called with the results and told me that the mass was likely cancerous, leading to a referral to an oncologist. That was the day my world truly turned upside down. Alicia, my saving grace and rock, urged me to have my primary refer me to HOA, where she could help advocate for me. My oncologist quickly reviewed all my scans and immediately suggested I go to the ER.

From 11/22 to 11/25, I was in the hospital, away from my toddler, but I managed to get the hospital to allow my exclusively breastfed baby to stay with me. During my stay, I underwent more CT scans, tests to check if my airways were compromised, and a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. The CT scans revealed a 21 x 10.9 x 9.7 cm mass extending from my chest to my neck. It has taken over the right side of my neck and chest, displacing my trachea, esophagus, thyroid, heart, and aorta to the left, along with encasing major blood vessels. The scan also showed that the upper and middle lobes of my right lung are being compressed by the mass.

The rest of the week at home passed slowly. I was grateful to spend Thanksgiving with my brother and sister-in-law, who have been by my side through all of this. Then, on 11/30, I was officially diagnosed with Nodular Sclerosis Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Right now, I’m trying to enjoy this last week of “normalcy” before the journey ahead begins in full force. Things have been moving so quickly. On 12/10, I will have a port inserted, and on 12/16, I’ll start my first round of chemotherapy.

This diagnosis has been nothing short of devastating for our family. Never did I imagine I’d be facing something like this, especially with a 2-year-old and a 1.5-month-old baby. The fear and uncertainty are overwhelming, and the emotional toll on Caleb, our kids, and me is indescribable. What should have been a time of joy and celebration with our new baby and the holidays has been replaced with a sense of dread for what lies ahead. The thought of what’s to come is terrifying, and we are so scared. This journey feels like a huge, frightening unknown, and we are doing our best to stay strong despite the overwhelming fear. But, at the same time, we’re remaining positive that this is a treatable and favorable cancer, which gives us some comfort as we take things day by day.

The coming year will be incredibly challenging physically and mentally. Balancing chemotherapy with raising our young children and Caleb returning to work in just 3.5 weeks will stretch us all in ways we never imagined. But we’re doing our best to stay strong and move forward, leaning on the support of our loved ones.

I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude. I’m beyond thankful for my fiancé, Caleb—words can’t fully express what it means to have him by my side through this. Alicia, my biggest advocate, has been my constant support and never left my side during my hospital stay. I’m also incredibly grateful to Caleb’s family, who have shown up non-stop to make the impossible schedule work and take care of our boys. My brother and sister-in-law, who have been there for me every single day, either by my side or on the phone. I’m deeply thankful for my Aunt Linda, my cousins, and my friends who have rallied around me with love and support. None of this would have been possible without these incredible people. They’ve truly made everything manageable and have given me the strength to keep going. We wouldn’t be making it through this without their unwavering support, and for that, I will be forever grateful. It feels amazing to know that I have so many people who truly care about me. 2025 will be a year dedicated to my health and recovery for my boys.