What happened, in summary

Stacy Saravo went through chemotherapy for a rare form of ovarian cancer. During treatment, she experienced hair loss, a weakened immune system, and the discomfort of feeling visibly different, but she still tried to keep parts of daily life as normal as possible. Her husband Garry and her best friend Stacie were important sources of support.

After treatment, Stacy focused on staying active and present. She and Garry hike regularly near their home in northern Arizona, and she competes in scent-work activities with her chocolate Labrador, Gus. She describes the activity as a form of mindfulness because it requires her to concentrate on the moment rather than on fear about the future.

Peer support also became central to Stacy’s recovery. After finding hope through OCRA’s Woman to Woman program and the Inspire online community, she began helping others. She became an Inspire Ambassador and spoke with medical students through OCRA’s Survivors Teaching Students program. Her approach is to take the experience one step at a time: focus on getting through today rather than worrying about treatments or months that are still ahead.