Parenting with Cancer Webinar and Panel Series
Parent Panel: Being Diagnosed while Pregnant or Postpartum
Date: Tuesday, March 31
Time: 9 am PT | 10 am MT | 11 am CT | 12 pm ET
Register Here
A cancer diagnosis during pregnancy or in the first months after welcoming a baby brings uniquely complex and deeply personal decisions, as parents must balance their own health with the well-being of their child. Approximately 1 in 1,000 patients face this reality and it is a number that is steadily rising.
Bright Spot Network, The Breasties, and Bobbie for Change invite you to a powerful parent panel featuring individuals who navigated cancer during pregnancy or the early postpartum period. This conversation will offer insight for families facing the unimaginable at one of life’s most vulnerable moments. Patients, caregivers, and loved ones across all cancer types and stages are welcome to attend.
This is for parents with cancer, their loved ones, and cancer care teams that support them.
Panelists:
Nadia Walker In November 2021, while four months pregnant with her third daughter, Nadia was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in both the breast tissue and lymph nodes. She navigated a year of treatment while parenting three young children, sharing her experience on CaringBridge and later collaborating with the organization to raise awareness about caregiving, the importance of asking for help and the power of honest storytelling during treatment.
As part of her treatment plan, she underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy, a single mastectomy and DIEP reconstruction, 30 sessions of radiation and is currently following hormone therapy.
A communications and brand leader with over 20 years of experience, Nadia has built her career around shaping meaningful narratives — skills she unexpectedly leaned on during treatment to help her children understand what was happening. She is a proud parent to Mila (11), Margot (8) and Maeve (4).
She speaks openly about parenting through cancer, building support systems, and facing uncertainty while holding family life together. Nadia also supports women newly diagnosed with cancer, offering practical help, perspective, and connection during treatment. Nadia is also a Bright Spot Board member.
Jamie Halverson Dr. Jamie Halverson is an Associate Professor at Clarkson College in Omaha, Nebraska, where she teaches courses in healthcare communication, intercultural interactions, and global women's health. She is passionate about preparing future healthcare professionals to engage with diverse populations in compassionate and culturally competent ways. Outside the classroom, Dr. Halverson enjoys traveling, hiking, and reading.
In 2022, Dr. Halverson was diagnosed with breast cancer while 18 weeks pregnant and caring for her two-year-old child. This deeply personal experience has driven her commitment to supporting others facing similar challenges. She actively contributes to the cancer community through her volunteer work, serving as a parent advisory board member for Bright Spot Network and volunteering with organizations including Project Pink’d, A Time to Heal, the American Cancer Society, and the Young Survival Coalition. Through both her professional and volunteer efforts, Dr. Halverson is dedicated to advocating for and empowering young cancer survivors and their families.
Jozelle Acampado At 28 weeks pregnant, Jozelle was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Four years after welcoming her healthy baby girl, she faced another cancer diagnosis: stage 4 ovarian cancer. Through every challenge, Jozelle continues to persevere as a devoted single mother while being committed to inspiring others and spreading hope within the cancer community.
Lauren Bruns Lauren was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and now lives in San Francisco with her husband and two young children. She studied engineering and danced competitively at Miami University of Ohio and earned her MBA at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. She works for Deloitte Consulting and uses her engineering background to help manufacturing & construction companies scale new capabilities and use AI. She loves travel, sushi, bicycling, swimming, 4th of July, Italy, Cleveland sports, and NYT Games.
Lauren was just 8 weeks pregnant with her 2nd child when diagnosed with Stage 1 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (Triple Positive). With the help of a tremendous medical team, she navigated chemotherapy during her 2nd trimester, and surgery during her 3rd trimester. She was induced at 34 weeks and delivered a healthy 5lb baby girl who spent a few weeks in the NICU growing and learning how to bottle feed. 10 days postpartum, and after a very brief but meaningful stint of breastfeeding, Lauren began a second cycle of chemo (weekly for 12 weeks), had a second surgery, and did a year of immunotherapy (every 3 weeks). She also started an 8-year course of hormone inhibitor therapy. With rates of breast cancer in young women on the rise, Lauren is passionate about connecting with others facing similar situations and helping them navigate their health, parenthood and career.
Panel Moderated by Valeria L. Palmertree. Valeria is a communications consultant and writer with a two-decade-long career in public relations. A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, she’s also fluent in Spanish, Malbec and Fútbol. In 2023, she was diagnosed with triple positive invasive ductal carcinoma at nearly 10 weeks pregnant. After a successful lumpectomy, Valeria began 16 rounds of chemotherapy before welcoming her daughter, Aurora, halfway through treatment. Despite a grueling postpartum treatment schedule that included 30 rounds of radiation, Valeria found light and hope within The Breasties community and is a proud (and eternally grateful) Bobbie Breastie. Now two years post-treatment and with a full-blown toddler in tow, Valeria is relishing the small moments. She most enjoys spending time outdoors, listening to live music, traveling to places near and far, and discovering new culinary experiences.
Thank you to our partners!
