Cynthia Loebig has always been the bedrock of her family. When she was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2018, she was balancing life as a wife, mother, grandmother and caregiver.

“It scared me,” Loebig said. “I had a disabled husband, two wonderful children, and I was taking care of my mother at the time. I had no idea what was going to happen.”

At 61, Loebig struggled to come to terms with her diagnosis. She had always been the type to put on her "Wonder Woman suit" and get things done. But this time, she realized it wasn’t something she could carry on her own.

“I remember walking into my appointment one day and my doctor asked me how I was doing—and my answer was, ‘Not worth a damn,’” she said. “That’s when I met Kerri. She’s been a touchstone for me ever since.”

Kerri Reeves, a social worker at TMC Health Cancer Center, helps patients navigate their cancer journey. Her role looks different for each person—whether it’s holding a hand or connecting them with vital resources, her goal is to support patients in every way possible.

“Everyone thinks once they’re diagnosed everything just stops, but that’s not the case. Life keeps happening,” Reeves said. “You can have all the support in the world, but when you’re going through this, it still feels like you’re alone.”

Although Loebig had a strong support system at home, she found it difficult to ask for help. Reeves became a trusted presence during her treatment and through the loss of her husband.

“Just to have that one person I could tell things to, things I couldn’t tell anybody else, that was the most beautiful part of this,” Loebig said. “She’s helped me with lots of different things. Not just cancer.”

Loebig encourages others to prioritize their health and get screened. She credits early detection and the support she continues to receive for her survival.

“If you’ve lived with a smoker or if you’ve ever smoked— just go have the baseline test, please! It’s so important. I’m still here.”