You met Brittany in 2018 – she was well, but still managing complications from cancer treatment. Today, between taking field trips with her daughter and planning for a family-filled holiday season, she is happy and thriving.  

Two days before her 28th birthday, Brittany Sullivan was diagnosed with a rare, Stage IV sarcoma. She was also pregnant.  To bring light to the darkness of that terrible day, Brittany’s husband, John, gave her an early birthday present.  

“It was a beautiful ring with a stunning turquoise gem,” recalls Brittany. “I began calling it my Hope Ring and wore it through treatments.”  

Brittany delivered a healthy baby, but her cancer continued spreading. Brittany was terrified because there was no known treatment to help her. 

She would soon learn that Dr. Breelyn Wilky had received a special gift, too – a Young Investigator Award (YIA) grant from Conquer Cancer. The grant provided funding for Dr. Wilky to research sarcoma treatments, which she had been doing years before Brittany would meet her.  

“It was her researcher’s mind and big, caring heart that created the treatment protocol that saved my life,” said Brittany. Soon after Brittany entered a clinical trial led by Dr. Wilky, her tumors began shrinking. And years later, with the Hope Ring still on her finger, Brittany is planning a holiday season with her family.  

“It usually includes good food followed by games and silliness with lots of belly laughs,” says Brittany.  

This year, as the Sullivans make plans to gather for Thanksgiving, they are grateful for Conquer Cancer donors, whose generosity gave Brittany the gift of a lifetime.  

“Because someone gave, I am 5 years off a clinical trial, living a wonderful life. Because someone gave, my daughter got to take her mom on the 3rd grade field trip to the zoo last month,” says Brittany. “The impact of your giving continues over a lifetime.”