Daniel Ross Salon has decided to walk in the Wings of Karen Bra Dash in honnor of Nissa Shinners. Although our Daniel Ross Salon family never had the opportunity to meet her we see her kindness, positivity and enthusiasm for life every day in her daughter Mariah.
Here is Nissa's Story:
I was 11 years old when my mom, Nissa, was diagnosed with cancer. She was not only a mother to me and my sister, but also a loving wife to my dad Mike and a successful business owner.
Cancer had never crossed our minds. It was only when my mom's pants no longer fit and she was in constant pain that we knew something was wrong. After many visits to the doctor's office and trips to the ER, she was finally diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The word ‘cancer’ changes many lives. My mom chose to change her life for the better.
Over the next 15 years, my mom had to endure over 30 surgeries, 10 full cycles of chemo, a cycle of radiation, a great deal of research and numerous trial treatments. My mom went into every surgery with a positive attitude. She dressed up for her chemo treatments in order to feel like her ‘old self’ missing all of her hair.
My mom was an inspiration to others. In every hospital and chemo office, my mom forged friendships, made memories, inspired people to stay strong and showed many how to laugh at the little things. My mom decided that if my dad had to take time off work to care for her, why not make the best of it . When my grandma visited my mom, they made sure to watch trash TV and eat cheesy bread in the middle of the night. A miserable life is no life at all, and my mom decided that if she was going to fight for her life, she was going to make sure to fight for a good one.
On June 30th, 2015 my mom's hard fight with cancer came to an end. She left a mark on this world which was apparent when six hundred people attended her memorial. She lost her life to cancer but she made sure that it did not define her life. She battled her cancer with other patients and other cancer survivors by her side. I know that my mom would be honored to know that there are people who believe in a cure as much as she did, and also that they are supporting such a worthy cause in her name.