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Want to Put the ‘Merry’ in Someone’s Christmas?

We know not everyone can attend our Christmas donation event or shop for a family in person—but the magic of the season is that giving can happen from anywhere.

This year, our goal is to support 15 to 20 families facing the challenges of cancer during the holidays. Your contribution—big or small—can go a long way in helping us reach that goal. Every dollar will bring gifts, essentials, and moments of joy to families who need it most, reminding them they are not alone.

If you’d like to be part of making this season brighter, please consider making a contribution today.

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Dana Kropp

By Joseph Nigro

Dana Kropp

Meet Dana

Dana Kropp is a 30-year-old wife and mother from Long Island, New York. She shares her life with her husband, Dennis, and their 20-month-old daughter, Ella, who has been her greatest source of strength throughout this journey. In July 2023, at just 11 weeks pregnant, Dana was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. What began as what doctors thought were normal pregnancy-related changes quickly turned into a devastating diagnosis after Dana pushed for further testing.

The news was overwhelming—Dana not only feared for her own health but for her unborn child. Some oncologists recommended terminating the pregnancy, but Dana and Dennis searched until they found a doctor who would fight for both of them. At 16 weeks pregnant, Dana underwent a lumpectomy and then began chemotherapy, determined to keep herself strong and her baby safe. At 33 weeks, Ella was born, and Dana immediately began more intense treatment, including chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, axillary dissection surgery, and 25 rounds of radiation.

Though Dana’s doctors initially prescribed a year-long PARP inhibitor, complications forced her to stop. Within a short break between medications, her cancer metastasized to her hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes, progressing to Stage IV. Today, Dana continues her battle with IV chemotherapy and immunotherapy—and she is responding well. While fatigue and nausea weigh heavily, Dana’s determination to fight for her daughter and husband fuels her spirit every day.

One of Dana’s greatest challenges has been trying to keep up with her toddler during treatment while also coping with the emotional weight of losing her hair twice—something she describes as losing a piece of her identity. Still, she has found strength through her support system, especially Dennis and Ella. “My husband is my advocate and my voice when I need one. My daughter reminds me just how precious life is. They both keep me going.” Surrounded by friends and family who provide meals, gifts, and endless encouragement, Dana says she still feels lucky despite her diagnosis.

When she’s not in treatment, Dana treasures her time with Ella, taking her to mommy-and-me classes like dance, gymnastics, swim, and farm visits. She also leans on books, podcasts, meditation, acupuncture, and Pilates to stay positive and grounded. Her hopes and dreams remain centered on living a long, happy life with her family and one day achieving remission.

At Fightstrong Foundation, we were honored to support Dana with an Amazon gift card—something she shared would be most helpful for her family during this season. It was a simple way to ease her journey and remind her she is never fighting alone. Dana’s resilience, grace, and devotion to her family make her an inspiration to us all.