Misty De La Cruz, a devoted mother of eight and grandmother of two, was living a full life when she discovered a lump in her breast during a routine self-exam in September 2024. The diagnosis was devastating: stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer — a rare and aggressive form that is difficult to treat. As the illness progressed, chemotherapy left her physically drained, forced her to use a walker, and made even simple tasks like cooking and bathing nearly impossible. But what weighed heaviest on Misty wasn’t the pain or treatment — it was the emotional toll on her children. Her youngest son, just 10 years old, began losing sleep, terrified that his mom might not wake up the next day.
That heartbreaking fear came into sharp focus in May 2025, when Misty received a call from his school. The nurse shared that her son had been struggling to stay awake in class and confessed that he feared his mother would die while he slept. Misty turned to TikTok to share her reality — not just the physical suffering, but the emotional trauma her family was enduring. Her story resonated deeply, with viewers offering words of support and donations.
Despite needing multiple surgeries and facing more than $150,000 in medical debt, Misty continued to prioritize her children’s emotional health, even arranging therapy to help them process the weight of her illness. More than anything, Misty’s journey is about resilience. Though her cancer changed nearly every aspect of daily life — including her ability to work and maintain her household — she has faced it all with raw honesty and deep love for her family.
Her GoFundMe campaign has helped ease the financial burden, but Misty is clear: surviving cancer isn’t just about the body — it’s about holding on to family, dignity, and hope. “I can handle this suffering,” she said, “but watching my babies suffer is horrible.” Through every challenge, Misty has become a voice for families walking similar paths — reminding the world that behind every diagnosis is a family fighting for normalcy, healing, and tomorrow.