In 2017, Lisa Bussell was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer called Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. Treatment included Chemotherapy, Bilateral Mastectomy, Radiation, and eventually, reconstruction. Summer of 2022, diagnostic testing confirmed Lisa’s primary breast cancer had metastasized to her pelvis and spine, progressing to Stage Four. The uncertainty of living with secondary breast cancer, having no cure, means Lisa must live on targeted drugs and chemotherapy. The hope is that this will place secondary cancer into dormancy, and Lisa's an acceptable quality of life may be preserved.
Meanwhile, Lisa has had to reduce her presence in her respiratory therapy profession but instead continues working as a Paraprofessional with high school students. Lisa’s family, including her daughters, Alex and Kate, graduated from the same Kansas High School. They are De Soto High School allumni (1988, 2011, 2014) Lisa served as a Paraprofessional 2011-2014 and returned in 2019. Her daughter Alex has been at Mill Creek as a paraprofessional the last two years in the USD232 District.
Lisa loves to kayak and hike for her physical and mental health. She even climbed The Manitou Incline in 2019, not long after her first recovery period. It is important to Lisa to show her family and friends that taking action means living life, keeping a positive outlook, and taking on the challenge to survive.
How can everyone help Lisa and her family? A gofundme account has been established to ease the financial impact a life with cancer is having. Your generosity to gofund-lisas-well will be an incredible blessing. Click donate to give!
