Taking Control of My Legacy

By Erika Hlavacek

On September 29, 2017, I was diagnosed with Stage IV ALK Positive NSCLC. I was a 42 year old mom, former airline pilot, with a 9 year old daughter and a 7 year old son. I was physically in the best shape of my life and a non-smoker with no risk factors. The diagnosis was devastating. Lung cancer had not even crossed my mind.

Luckily I was being treated at a hospital where molecular testing was standard of care. When the test results came back with ALK Positive, I knew that there were treatment options available for my cancer that would greatly increase my life expectancy. Hitting the jackpot of the worst lottery ever was slightly comforting, but there was still so much uncertainty and constant concern.

One of the best things that I read shortly after my diagnosis was “don’t waste your cancer,” written by a fellow survivor. I turned my frustration into action. Focusing on the things I could control, I dedicated myself to living my best life. Doing the things that I may have put off before my diagnosis; travel, get togethers etc.

I also dedicated myself to lung cancer advocacy. The medications that were extending my life were created through research, and lung cancer research is so severely under-funded, there is a great need for advocates to raise money to find the next treatment. It was apparent to me that this was going to be a long term challenge, and I began looking at starting a fundraising entity.

Adhering to my new mantra of Live Your Best life, I tried to make every day count. When you have a terminal disease you realize that is everything. Don’t wait for something bad to happen. Live your life. Live it the BEST way you can!

Say YES more often.

Go outside of your comfort zone.

Take the trip.

Learn the dance.

Eat the donut.

Love hard.

Recently when I was designing a T-shirt to use for my team at a lung cancer walk, I based it around the theme of “live your Best Life”. We were so happy with the design that we decided to sell the shirt as a fundraiser. The response was so positive that we have turned this into its own nonprofit, called yEAHbestlife. The nonprofit is dedicated to raising funds for lung cancer research and raising lung cancer awareness, while encouraging everyone, both survivors and others, to live their Best Life. In three months time, we went from an idea for a T-shirt to creating the nonprofit, it’s been a very exciting time.

Taking ownership of my fundraising for research gives me hope and strength, it lets me guide where resources are spent, and allows me to leave a legacy of giving toward improving the outcomes of patients living with lung cancer. I’m proud to leave this legacy of giving to my family, who can continue to fund research toward finding a cure for lung cancer.

Living Your Best Life with Lung Cancer, a Personal Story