NCCC Florida (South Miami) Chapter
My name is Toré Kelley but to large my family, I am Dutchess—the princess to a wide brother/male cousins group. Being the first daughter, granddaughter, niece, girl cousin, and automatic second mom has shaped me to being the woman I am today.
I am an entrepreneur and patient representative preceptor, born and raised in Miami, FL (and yes that means I am a Dolphins/UM fan). Growing up I would spend time in Ellaville, GA with my grandmother, Carolyn. Going from big city to small country town gave me different perspectives, humbleness, and passion.
After receiving all doses of the HPV vaccine, cervical cancer still came knocking at my door. As a freshman in college, living away from home, working full time at Starbucks and remaining active in my social life, I was stunned. I knew that if I made it through, my career focus would change and it did. All of it changed.
In 2016, I was newly married and ready for birth. However, my child, Sir, did not make it. I went through so many emotions and questions. After months of testing, I found my why. This time, PCOS was entering my chat. Learning how to eat for my hormones, manage weight, and the hair growth was all something different yet pushed me to deeper into my purpose. In studying more and more, I learned my body and the things that would effect me. I was getting in the groove of this new life.
In 2020, the year of the pandemic, I had my own pandemic. I divorced and cervical cancer came knocking again. This time, I had no fight, I had no motivation, I had no more energy to fight back. Then I remembered being that little girl in Ellaville, GA, hanging out clothes with my grandma while she told me the stories of her and her sisters picking cotton and peaches and how they had to walk miles to get to school. I remembered her telling me how those dark days made her stronger, made her appreciate all the experiences she was afforded in her 20s, moving to Miami and starting her family. I knew I couldn’t give up, I had to keep fighting and I did and I won.
Today at 32, I am over a year into my remission and the fight still lives, though my grandma is now gone. I move forward with the same strength she did.
