Guest Blogger: Amanda Field
In December 2023, just a month after turning 36, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer that had spread to my lymph nodes. At the time, I was a wife to my rock, Chris, and a busy mom to 6-year-old twins, Kane and Remi, who were the center of my world. Our life came to a screeching halt while everyone else’s seemed to keep moving forward. I felt disbelief, sadness, and anger that this was happening to me and to us as a family.
When I began chemotherapy on January 18, 2024, I knew our lives would change in unimaginable ways. Losing my hair was one of the hardest parts, not only for me but also for my children. They had only ever known me one way, and the physical changes were scary for them. At first, my husband and I tried to shield them from the reality of cancer, but once my hair began to fall out, we realized honesty was the only way forward. Leaving them in the dark only caused more worry and fear.
That’s when something beautiful began. To help them express their feelings, we started passing love notes back and forth and coloring together. These simple activities became our lifeline. Through the notes, my kids were able to tell me how they were feeling, and I could reassure them and acknowledge their emotions. Coloring gave us a calming outlet when words were too heavy. It opened the door to conversation, created moments of laughter in the middle of chaos, and reminded us that joy still had a place in our home.
This practice carried us through treatment. We cried together, we laughed together, and we used humor to lighten the darkest days. Looking back, I realize that those little notes and coloring pages became the glue that kept us connected. They gave my kids a safe way to process what was happening, and they gave me a way to mother them through cancer, even when I felt at my weakest.
Chris was my rock through it all. He stepped fully into ‘Mr. Mom’ mode, keeping our home and family moving forward while loving me through every physical and emotional change. His unwavering support reminded me daily that I was never alone, and together we discovered a deeper strength in our marriage and family than we ever thought possible.
After treatment ended, I knew I wanted to share this tool with other families walking the same road. That’s why I created my coloring books: Letters to My Kids and Letters to Mommy. They were born directly from our experience of writing, coloring, and communicating through cancer. I believe coloring is more than just a creative activity; it is therapeutic, it opens conversations, and it provides calm in chaos. Most of all, it helps families heal together.
Now, as a survivor, I want other mothers to know they are not alone. The feelings of fear, guilt, and sadness are real, but so is the hope, the love, and the strength that can come from walking through it. Lean on the people around you. Talk to your kids honestly – don’t sugarcoat it. Cry together, laugh together, and let them see that it’s okay to be scared but also okay to find joy! These moments build resilience and show children how to face life’s hardest challenges with courage and love.
It’s amazing to look back and see how far we’ve come as a family. Cancer brought us to rock bottom, but it also pulled us closer than ever. My kids witnessed me fight, fall, and rebuild; and now they get to see how something so painful turned into something beautiful that helps others.
About Amanda Field
Amanda Field is a twin mom, breast cancer survivor, and passionate creator of meaningful resources that help families heal and connect, especially through the power of art. During her own battle with cancer, she found strength in the love of her children and the need to make sense of their shared journey. This inspired her to create two cancer-themed coloring books designed to help mothers and children process emotions, spark conversation, and find moments of peace together.
Amanda uses her books and social media platforms to encourage other moms facing hard things. Her work is a celebration of resilience, motherhood, and the unbreakable bond between parent and child.
When she’s not writing or drawing, you can find her on the sidelines cheering on her twins, creating Instagram Reels about motherhood and healing, or enjoying a quiet moment with a strong cup of coffee.
