Published: October 02, 2026
Breast Cancer Awareness Month – The Story of Annette Ward
The Unbreakable Heart: How Annette Ward Found Light in the Darkest Storm
When Annette Ward reflects on her journey through inflammatory breast cancer, she does not speak merely of a medical diagnosis. She speaks of a profound transformation. Walking through the doors of Avita’s Jode Cancer Center, which opened its doors last year, Annette brought with her a heart already heavy with grief, yet carrying an untapped reservoir of strength. Her story is a testament to the fact that while cancer can alter your body and testing your spirit, it can never define who you are.
A Heart Divided by Care
Before cancer entered her life, Annette’s days were defined by devotion. A Mansfield native who settled into a neighboring village over three decades ago, she was just one semester away from earning her master’s degree in social work. But her life took a sharp turn in September 2022 when her husband was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Her typical days became an act of pure love—balancing work, attending his medical appointments, and cherishing every moment with her daughter and granddaughter.
“My typical days were going to work, spending as much quality time as I could with my husband, and attending my husband’s medical appointments with him.” — Annette Ward
The Day the Swirling Began
The moment everything changed arrived when Annette noticed her breast felt swollen. Her family doctor, suspecting inflammatory breast cancer, ordered an ultrasound. Annette sat alone in a small, dimly lit room at Avita Ontario Hospital, waiting. When her doctor walked back in accompanied by the ultrasound technician and a patient navigator, the world shifted. Her first instinct was not fear for herself, but deep protectiveness for her family—especially her young granddaughter, who was already weathering the trauma of her grandfather’s terminal illness.
“The moment I saw the doctor, the ultrasound technician, and another lady walk into the room, I knew the information wasn’t going to be good… I honestly was wondering how I was going to break the news to my family.” — Annette Ward
Walking Through the Deepest Valley
The months that followed brought an unimaginable convergence of trials. During her first six cycles of chemotherapy, Annette faced severe sensory overload, debilitating fatigue, and a dense “chemo brain” that slowed her thoughts. Amidst this physical devastation, tragedy struck her home. Within a staggering three-week window, Annette lost both her husband and her sister. There were days, driven by the intense bone pain of recovery medications, where she wondered how she could possibly keep going. Yet, she found anchoring pieces of hope in contemporary Christian music, scripture, and the compassionate, unvarnished honesty of her oncologist, Dr. VanDeusen.
“My first six cycles, losing my husband and my sister just 3 weeks of each other, having surgery and radiation, and the brain fog… I distinctly remember the first week… My body hurt so bad that I felt like I had the flu 100 times over.” — Annette Ward
Surrounded by a Community of Strength
No one walks the halls of the Jode Cancer Center alone. For Annette, that promise was fulfilled both by her dedicated family and an extraordinary clinical care team. Her daughter stepped away from work to become a pillar of support, caring for her father in his final days and lifting Annette through surgery and radiation.
Miriam Roggio, the Nurse Practitioner who closely followed Annette’s care, recalls the profound impression Annette left on the entire clinic. “Annette possesses a rare kind of grit,” Miriam shares. “Even on the days when the physical toll of her treatments was at its worst, she moved through our center with a grace that inspired everyone around her. At the Jode Cancer Center, our mission is to ensure that no patient ever feels isolated in their pain. Annette allowed us to walk beside her, and in return, her resilience showed all of us what true courage looks like.”
“There were a lot of people in my corner, but I would have to say my daughter was there for the most part… She helped take care of me after my surgery and during and after radiation.” — Annette Ward
The Lifting of the Fog
The turning point came quietly, around her eighth cycle of treatment. The heavy fatigue began to recede, and the overwhelming brain fog finally started to lift. When subsequent biopsies returned negative, Annette could finally breathe a sigh of relief. She realized that she hadn’t just survived the storm; she had discovered a fierce, undeniable determination within herself that she never knew existed.
“After both of my biopsies came back negative and speaking with Dr. VanDeusen I could breathe a little easier… things were becoming more hopeful that we kicked cancer’s butt.” — Annette Ward
A New Perspective on a Beautiful Life
Today, Annette sees the world through entirely different eyes. Cancer took her hair and a breast, but it gave her a radical appreciation for the present moment. She has embraced self-care, learned how to lean on her family, and discovered a passion for cycling through the Livestrong program. Ordinary days are now beautiful celebrations filled with work, helping her daughter, cheering at her granddaughter’s sporting events, and planning a well-deserved retirement.
“What does being a survivor mean to you? It means living life one day at a time, and not letting cancer steal my peace of mind. It means finding something I enjoy doing and doing it.” — Annette Ward
A Message of Unshakable Hope
If Annette could speak to the woman sitting in that dimly lit ultrasound room on the day of her diagnosis, she would tell her to hold her head high. She wants every woman facing a breast cancer diagnosis to know that they are mentally and physically whole, and that a medical file will never define their worth. Annette’s story stands as a beacon for anyone navigating their own dark valley, proving that courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to look cancer in the eye and keep moving forward.
“I want my story to bring hope to someone who has lost their hope. I want my story to represent courage, strength, determination, and peace… Be courageous. Stare cancer in the eyes and say, ‘You will not win! I’m stronger than you!'” — Annette Ward
In honor of Annette and all breast cancer patients…
Or send your check payable to the Avita Health Foundation to:
Avita Health Foundation
Attention: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
269 Portland Way South
Galion, Ohio 44833
To schedule a mammogram in either Bucyrus, Galion or Ontario call 419-462-3310.
To schedule an appointment with one of Avita’s Medical Oncologists, request an appointment online.