Archive of ‘Food in Birmingham’ category

Faith, family and a new perspective guided Marcella Roberts through breast cancer

By Chanda Temple

“How in the world do I have breast cancer?”

That’s what Marcella Roberts wanted to know after a routine mammogram and later a biopsy showed she had Stage 2, triple negative breast cancer, which is a cancer that is common in women of color and experts have more difficulty pinpointing what fuels it.

Marcella had no symptoms, no signs and no one in her family had had breast cancer. And even though breast cancer can show up without symptoms or a family history, Marcella still wondered, “So, how did this happen?”

But pretty soon, she had to put down that question and pick up the fight for her life.

Marcella Roberts (Photo provided by Marcella Roberts)
Marcella Roberts (Photo provided by Marcella Roberts)

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Steele Standing: How Ebony Arrington Steele fought breast cancer while living her dream

By Chanda Temple

Six weeks.

That’s all it took for Ebony Arrington Steele’s life to change.

Six weeks after being selected as a co-host for a nationally-syndicated radio show in Dallas, Ebony found herself in the doctor’s office to investigate what felt like a hard marble in her right breast.

She was 35, living her dream but now facing her biggest test: cancer.

Ebony Arrington Steele (Photo provided by Ebony Arrington Steele)
Ebony Arrington Steele (Photo provided by Ebony Arrington Steele)

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Kasandra Brundidge’s journey through breast cancer, motherhood and marathon training

By Chanda Temple

Six weeks after giving birth to her second son, Kasandra Brundidge went in for what she thought would be a routine checkup. It wasn’t.

Doctors told her she had stage 0 breast cancer. A month later in November 2007, the cancer had advanced to Stage 2, Triple Negative.

For five years, she had been trying to get a mammogram. But every time she was to go in, she was either pregnant or sick. (She had experienced four miscarriages before her second son was born in September 2007. )

Her diagnosis was crushing news. But Kasandra was determined to fight the disease. She had 18 founds of chemo and then 32 rounds of radiation. Testing also revealed she had the breast cancer gene. In May 2009, she had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.

Kasandra Brundidge (Photo provided by Kasandra Brundidge)
Kasandra Brundidge (Photo provided by Kasandra Brundidge)

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Married 34 years, Dr. Jacqueline Stewart still chooses love and lunch every Friday

Every time they are together, Birmingham Pediatrician Jacqueline Stewart and George W. Stewart are caught in the same dilemma: What will we eat?

It’s a small moment, but it’s their moment until they eventually make a decision.

Salads. Check.

Sandwiches. Check.

Fried Fish. Check! Check! Check!

Dr. Jacqueline Stewart (Photo source: Facebook)
Dr. Jacqueline Stewart (Photo source: Facebook)

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The signs of breast cancer aren’t always the same for everyone

By Chanda Temple

Maranda LaRussa knew that lumps in one’s breast could be a sign of cancer. But never had she heard about itchy breasts possibly being a sign.

So, when her breasts started to itch in the summer of 2018, she thought it was odd. Then in October 2018, she experienced pain when she touched a lump in her breast. Immediately, she contacted her doctor.

She went in for an ultrasound. Test results showed it was cancer. A few weeks later, she learned she had Stage 3A breast cancer. She felt like if she had known about itchy breasts, she could have gotten her breasts checked earlier.

“But I ‘m glad that I noticed my symptoms, I was vigilant, and I moved as soon as I could,” she said.  

Maranda LaRussa (Photo by Taneisha Tucker Photography)
Maranda LaRussa (Photo by Taneisha Tucker Photography)

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Finding love after loss: How Germaine Robinson is living a full life today

By Chanda Temple

The year was 1991, and Germaine Robinson had just undergone a mastectomy. As doctors started to remove the bandages, questions filled her head.

“Would men be attracted to me?”

“How will my clothes fit?”

But soon, a 22-year-old Germaine had an epiphany that set the tone for the rest of her life: “If they can’t love me without it, then it wasn’t meant to be.”

Germaine Robinson (Photo provided by Germaine Robinson)
Germaine Robinson (Photo provided by Germaine Robinson)

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Jill Carter had plans. Then life changed them

By Chanda Temple 

Breast cancer wasn’t part of Jill Carter’s plans. But plans change.

She was a married mom of three boys – one in kindergarten, one in fourth grade and one in 10th grade – when she was diagnosed with Stage 2 Triple Negative breast cancer on Oct. 3, 2008. From working part time to handling home life, she stayed on the go 

“I remember thinking I don’t have time for this. But I did, and that began the fight of my life,” she said. 

Jill Carter (Photo by Taneisha Tucker Photography)
Jill Carter (Photo by Taneisha Tucker Photography)

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Breast cancer led Denetra Johnson closer to God and community college

By Chanda Temple

Breast cancer pushed Denetra Johnson to do two things: enroll in community college and go to church more.

It all started on Oct. 29, 2011 after her doctor called and said she had triple breast cancer. What followed next was all Denetra had to hear: “I think we got it in time.”

Denetra cried at first. Then, she told her family and started working on a plan.

 “I said, ‘Well, I’m fixing to do some thangs now,’ ” Denetra recalled. “It’s time for me to grow up, … get stronger, be a thriver and a survivor.’ ”

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Shoulders back, heads up: A Birmingham mother’s promise after losing her daughter to breast cancer

By Chanda Temple

Every day, Alease Sims walks past a pink wreath that once belonged to her daughter, Stacey Sims Turner.

A sign on it reads: “I stood strong. I fought hard. I won.”

Stacey was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. As Stacey fought the disease, Alease knew her pain because Alease had fought the same disease in 1989. Alease comforted Stacey through a mastectomy, chemo, radiation and six-month checkups.

Doctors eventually told Stacey she was cancer-free. But in 2021, the cancer had returned and spread to Stacey’s lungs and brain. Again, Alease was by Stacey’s side, telling her, “We are going to fight this.”

Stacey Sims Turner, left, with her mother, Alease Sims. (Photo provided by Alease Sims)
Stacey Sims Turner, left, with her mother, Alease Sims at a breast cancer awareness event. (Photo provided by Alease Sims)

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How Edgar’s Bakery strawberry cake makes everything seem allright

By Chanda Temple

Every Thursday, right after Tonya Adams’ breast cancer office visits, she and her mother had a standing date at Edgar’s Bakery in downtown Birmingham.

They’d walk in and the staff already knew what they wanted: a chicken salad box with a croissant, fruit and a slice of strawberry cake or strawberry cupcake.

For Tonya, it was like eating hope on a plate.

Tonya Adams (Photo provided by Tonya Adams)
Tonya Adams (Photo provided by Tonya Adams)

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