Amanda was known for her creative and brilliant mind, her wit, humor, magnetic energy, intentionality, a touch of stubbornness, and her strong faith and love for the Lord.
She worked hard, gave of herself generously, and always kept us laughing. From her relationships to her service to her faith, Amanda was a true light.
Born and raised in Alabama, Amanda graduated from Auburn University in 2004 and began her professional career in Marketing and Communications. She married her college sweetheart, Allen, and together they had two daughters, Ava and Anna. All along the way, she developed her photography skills and eventually grew a thriving business as a creative entrepreneur. As their girls grew, Amanda stepped back from her professional life to spend more time with them and as a volunteer at their school and in the community.
Amanda’s cancer journey began in the fall of 2021. After a summer of not being able to overcome a persistent cough, she woke up on Labor Day with a swollen leg which turned out to be a blood clot. Doctors discovered swollen lymph nodes throughout her chest and a mass which was compressing her airways. They suspected lymphoma, but after doing a biopsy of the mass, she was diagnosed with stage IV adenocarcinoma of the lung, which carries a worse prognosis.
As a young, otherwise healthy non-smoker, Amanda’s doctors were hopeful that she had a targetable mutation and sent her samples for testing. She began chemotherapy immediately to treat her worsening symptoms, and within a couple weeks she started feeling better. Her tests came back as positive for ROS1, which allowed her to take an oral medication rather than traditional chemotherapy.
The oral medication worked quickly, and we all felt like Amanda was back to herself. By Thanksgiving, she was barely coughing and was back to normal aside from the side effects of her medication. A scan in early December showed 90% resolution of her mass, and we all rejoiced with relief over this miracle. Amanda was able to spend Christmas enjoying all the usual festivities with her family and friends.
She began 2022 with a repeat scan which showed complete radiographic resolution of her cancer. It was a true miracle and she praised God for this healing. She continued on her medication as maintenance, and she was able to live a full life in the months to come, going on several vacations including a special trip to celebrate her 40th birthday.
On that trip, Amanda started experiencing an occasional cough. Upon returning home, she had a repeat scan which showed a small amount of growth of the initial mass as well as a spot on her liver. After taking a spring break trip with her husband Allen and two girls, she promptly began chemotherapy. In May, a scan of her brain showed a small amount of cancer had spread and needed to be treated with radiation. She began radiation in mid-May, and following the treatment, she experienced severe headaches that could not be controlled at home. She moved to the hospital prior to Memorial Day weekend, and soon started having seizures which led to her being transferred to the ICU.
At that point, it became clear the cancer had overtaken her body and there were no further treatments that could fight it. Amanda was relieved of all her pain and disease when her Lord and Savior welcomed her into His healing and loving arms June 5, 2022.
