Pink For Keesha

The Blackbird Academy
2806 Azalea Place, Nashville

This page is no longer active! We created it when Keesha was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. This actually was the first answer to prayer.

You can find out about our nonprofit we created in her name - and follow the progress there by clicking the link below for Keesha Warrior Priness. Our worse fears have become a reality.... Our daughter, Keesha was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer.... She is 30 years old and if there is one word that people use to describe her over and over it is "sweet." We have many thoughts running thro

ugh our heads - fear, hope, sadness, faith, numbness, anger, and more...

We covet your prayers and know our friends and family will gladly share our path toward remission...

Usually people want to know the back-story - so here it is:

For a week or so Keesha was sick with what we assumed was stomach flu (when you work at a daycare it goes with the job)... On Wednesday night (11/20/13) she was having pain in her back and her arm so bad that her mom, Susan, took her to the emergency room. They first thought it might be her heart and then gallbladder. I was in San Francisco at a conference so Susan kept me informed though-out the night (it was too late for a flight home). Once they ruled out the gallbladder, they did a CT and came back to Susan and Keesha and told them that they found a mass in her breast and several spots on her lungs and that she should see an oncologist immediately. The call from Susan at was one of the most devastating calls of my life (and reminded me of 2008 when Susan called to say Kevin was in the Union/Jackson tornado). I was able to catch a 6am flight on Thursday morning and arrived in Memphis about 2pm. We immediately went to West Clinic for the visit with the Oncologist. We were able to get the same doctor (Lee Swartzburg) that treated Susan in 2001. He is one the top breast cancer doctors in the US. Keesha's sweet aunt, Sharon, works for a group of heart doctors in Memphis and they were able to set-up the appointment. The doctor checked Keesha and did a biopsy of her breast. He gave her meds for her back and said he would know more on Monday. He indicated that the diagnosis was bad - and we should prepare for a possible diagnosis of breast cancer. He used a word that was very important - he said, "this is treatable..." On Friday we went back to West Clinic for a CT and an MRI of her head. Unexpectedly, the doctor's assistant called us back into the room to tell us even more bad news. She said that she was 99% sure that Keesha has stage-4 breast cancer. She said that there are spots in her lungs, liver, breast and three bone areas (hips, back and skull). She explained that it is not in her brain but in the bone in her skull. We also talked about the future and she used the same word, "treatable" but she also said that due to the advanced stages that it is not curable (more on that later). Keesha also had to endure a procedure to remove fluid on her lungs (ouch!) (actually when I read this to Keesha before posting, she said Triple OUCH!)

The afternoon was better. As the doctor told Keesha today, "right now just focus on Monday's visit... that is your mission... focus on Monday!" On Monday we are scheduled to gather results from the biopsy and find the exact type cancer and the specifics for treatment. At this point, the first steps will be chemotherapy. The doctor said, "on Monday or Tuesday we will through everything we have at the cancer - including the kitchen-sink.... and then re-test in a week - and if that does not work we will change course. We are going to do everything we can to push this cancer into remission..." Throughout this week we have had several conversations about "why?" "how could God let this happen?" "is it OK to be angry with God?" We are at a loss - but I plan to explore those thoughts in the future....

Thank you for your prayers... as we start down this insane path....

08/02/2020

THIS PAGE IS NO LONGER ACTIVE - But, be sure to follow our NEW nonprofit created in our sweet Keesha's name. We no longer post here at Pink for Keesha - but keep it active for the memories... https://www.facebook.com/KeeshaWarriorPrincess

Keesha Warrior Princess We strive to save lives by increasing early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer - in women 20-40

Jim Valvano's 1993 ESPYS Acceptance Speech | The ESPYS | ESPN Archives

03/19/2019

Susan and I watched 30 for 30 - Survive and Advance - the amazing story of Jimmy Valvano tonight. Of course we thought about the spirit and fight of Keesha, the . She was born in 1983, the same month that NC State won the National Tournament. We were living in NC. There is something poetic about it all. I remember watching the story with her several times...

This was Jimmy V’s famous ESPY Award speech -

Jim Valvano's 1993 ESPYS Acceptance Speech | The ESPYS | ESPN Archives In 1993, Jim Valvano won the Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award at the inaugural ESPYS. Watch ESPN on YouTube TV: http://ow.ly/1YWF30aFCi3 Subscribe ...

The question every dad should ask his daughter

10/25/2018

We asked for this to go viral....
It has been viewed on LinkedIn 1491 times and shared on Facebook 1074 times....

Thank you for all the positive comments and posts... and for sharing your stories... lives are in the balance...Please keep sharing....

The question every dad should ask his daughter Early detection by a gynecologist might have saved my daughter Keesha, who died of breast cancer last year. !

10/14/2018

Please share.... she continues to impact others with this article!

The question every dad should ask his daughter Early detection by a gynecologist might have saved my daughter Keesha, who died of breast cancer last year. !

Lovelace employee receives unexpected gift from the Warrior Princess | Lovelace Health System in New Mexico

05/02/2018

This story began several weeks ago.... it is a story about two amazing ladies whose lives became intertwined.... the ' story continues....

I am sure she is smiling.... as always...

Lovelace employee receives unexpected gift from the Warrior Princess | Lovelace Health System in New Mexico This is the story of Keesha Furniss, the Warrior Princess from Memphis, Tennessee. Keesha Michelle Furniss was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastasized breast cancer in November 2013. At that time, Keesha was thirty years old and worked at a local daycare. Metastatic breast cancer, also called stage IV o...

10/02/2017

Keesha and DeAngelo!!!!!! What an amazing day!!

Last year DeAngelo Williams was able to meet this WARRIOR

Susan G. Komen Memphis-Midsouth - Susan G. Komen Memphis-MidSouth Race for the Cure : Keesha's Krew

09/14/2017

We hope everyone will come walk with Team Keesha's Krew at the Komen Race for the Cure on Saturday, Oct 28 in downtown Memphis. We've had 25+ people the last two years and hope to have even more this year.

You can register here: http://www.info-komen.org/site/TR?fr_id=6864&pg=team&team_id=388622 - this link shoud take you to the team site - just scroll-down to the pink JOIN OUR TEAM pink button in the middle. Early registration ends on the 17th ($5 off)... Any questions? Just comment!

We will not have team shirts this year (although you get a Komen shirt for participating) But will have SPECIAL Keesha's Krew Hero Capes for all team members!

Susan G. Komen Memphis-Midsouth - Susan G. Komen Memphis-MidSouth Race for the Cure : Keesha's Krew I am supporting Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Come join me!

01/23/2017

I forgot to post updates to Pink Page yesterday – so updating those that only follow us here… Thanks for prayers.

Sunday, 1/22/17

8:30am: The asked me to engage our prayer partners this morning - perhaps fitting on a Sunday morning as many head to church. She woke with severe coughing fits and high fever. Fever is a bad thing for a cancer patient - with reduced white counts, it can turn bad quickly. The doctors have us in a holding partner with the ER as a possibility. Please engage - that this WILL NOT happen. Susan

1:00pm Update: coughing has subsided. Fever down.

3:00pm Update: Just had a funny conversation with Keesha. She's monitoring her fever every 30 mins (see previous post for details). It went down a bit and then back up a little. She said,"Look, if you're gonna take me to the hospital then let's go ahead and go - so I can get in room in time for the Steeler game!"

9:00pm Update: We made it through the day with no ER. Fever dropped to 100.5 and bounced around back and forth. Now if we can make it to morning we will be back at West Cancer center tomorrow.

Monday – fever seems to be down – hoping now to avoid a trip to West all together!

Next visit schedule on Wednesday to choose surgery options and date..

12/20/2016

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Memphis

Telephone

+1 901-230-0567

Website

http://www.warriorprincess.org/

Address

Memphis, TN

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