A local mom’s story of resilience
Leslie Barr is 36. She’s a mother to Georgia, a wife to Cody, and a successful PR specialist for Kenergy Corp. She’s also no stranger to overcoming obstacles, having battled cancer in 2024.
“It has been an unexpected and hard year. My family was planning so many things, we never expected to go through any of this at 35. It’s truly unusual how it all came to be,” Barr said while reflecting on her journey. “My husband and I were in Mexico and I remember telling him that I felt better than I did in college. I was in the best shape of my life.”
Soon after things would change, subtly at first, but they would change, ultimately in a big way for Leslie.
“It started as a dry cough, it just wouldn’t go away,” Leslie said.
She went to see her practitioner at the beginning of 2024 who started her on an inhaler.
“March 21 is a date that I will remember forever,” Leslie said.
She texted her doctor to mention the cough one more time, and mentioned an episode with her heart. Last January, Leslie, who has always paid attention to her resting heart rate, was alerted by her FitBit that her heart was beating in the high 80/90s.
A follow up appointment to get bloodwork and an x-ray was scheduled. A family history of heart disease somewhat convinced Leslie that maybe the sudden onslaught of health issues could possibly be genetic?
“By the time I traveled from Breckingridge Street to Meijer the doctor called me to report that I had a large mass in my chest. I had to have a CT scan immediately,” Leslie said. “My doctor called that night to go over test results, indicating potential lymphoma. She referred me to another doctor. From Thursday to Monday was a whirlwind. Lots of illnesses were mentioned, a battery of tests was projected and a biopsy.”
Soon after a cardiac surgeon in Bowling Green took over Leslie’s care and a second biopsy was conducted. A PET scan showed lots of growths, however Leslie’s second biopsy could not take an adequate sample. Her lung would have to be collapsed prior to the surgery. Ultimately the surgery would be unsuccessful. Another surgery, known as a Chamberlain procedure was conducted. A week later Leslie was diagnosed with cancer.
Cancer in the center of her chest – a mass 10 cm in diameter, roughly the size of grapefruit – was pushing on her lungs and heart causing the cough and difficulties breathing.
“I woke up on Easter Sunday and had no collar bone,” Leslie said. “The swelling was so bad. I called my doctor. A port was placed in immediately. Only 2 or 3% have this type of cancer. Chemo had to be started ASAP. It was very aggressive.”
Diagnosed with Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma or (PMBCL), Leslie essentially had a rare and aggressive subtype of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, categorized as stage 4.
Through it all, Leslie remained positive, and hopeful. Her strength transcended all odds, despite an exhausting and taxing treatment schedule.
“The cancer center in Owensboro is amazing,” Leslie said. “They encouraged me to stay positive despite being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. I took six cycles of chemo, once every 21 days. It was brutal. I took my treatments at the Cancer Center. I would get six or seven hours of chemo. I felt terrible all the time.”
Leslie said losing her hair, which happened early in her journey, just 10 days into chemotherapy, was particularly hard.
“I took my daughter with me when I got my head shaved,” she said.
Given Leslie now found herself identifying as a cancer patient, her role as a mother remained her most cherished, and the most important.
“I tried to make the experience as light as possible for Georgia,” Leslie reflected. “We never said ‘cancer’ or ‘sick.’ My daughter wore a purple wig, when I wore mine. She would ask, ‘Where did mommy’s hair go?’ She would rub my head and talk about the big haircut. She knew I had boo boos, but we never used the word ‘cancer.’”
Leslie credits Georgia as being a constant source of strength.
“My 2-year-old never gives me a break. She keeps me on my toes. This little person really made the situation light,” she said. “It helped to not make the situation heavy. Even if I didn’t feel great I would sit outside while she played with my husband. I made every effort to sustain normalcy. Mommy might not have felt good, but she still played with me.”
Having faced an unimaginable situation, Leslie notes that her faith, first and foremost, got her through such a challenging season.
“If anything happened, I knew I was going to be OK. I knew where I was going,” Leslie said. “I never thought I would grapple with mortality at 35, but God was going to get me through this, no matter what.”
Leslie was confident that no matter the outcome of her diagnosis, her family would be OK. And on the hard days, she clung to God as a constant source of strength.
“I do believe that there is a reason this happened,” she said. “I am working to find that purpose. If spreading awareness is my purpose, so be it.”
The support of family proved crucial while navigating such a difficult journey. Leslie describes how her family rallied together to support her during her cancer battle.
“My support system, my parents, and my pregnant sister took turns driving to Owensboro from Richmond to be with me during treatments along with my husband. They didn’t miss a treatment,” she said. “My husband was incredible. He stayed positive no matter what, reassuring me that we were going to be fine.”
In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, Leslie found that maintaining a positive outlook seemed challenging. However, embracing positivity not only benefited her own mental well-being but also influenced those around her. By finding beauty in everyday moments, she hopes to create a ripple effect of positivity that uplifts others and transforms the mundane into something extraordinary.
“Being healthy for yourself, it matters, but bad things can still happen,” Leslie said. “Time is our greatest resource. I’ve been granted more time by God.”
Leslie’s final treatment was in September of last year and she was officially labeled cancer free in October.
“An ordinary day is such a gift,” she said. “Some people are fighting to have an ordinary day. What a blessing to have any and every ordinary day. I cherish them.”