Helping others to be positive

Twenty-three-year-old Amber Bluford, a Center local and 2019 Shelbyville High School graduate, is ready to tell her story. She has been fighting a battle against cancer for four years now.

“I would like to talk about my cancer journey and how long I have been dealing with this,” said Amber. “Most people don’t know how hard it is to hear the word cancer and how instantly your life changes,” she said.

“When I first found out I had bone cancer in my right knee in 2020, I was in so much denial. I didn’t want to believe that it would ever happen to me, especially since I had just started college and was beginning to start my life. I was so healthy and active, but I also know that everything happens for a reason,” she said Though Amber didn’t know the reason why she was going through something so traumatic at that point in her life, she never gave up. “I kept my head up to God and believed that I’m winning this fight no matter what I have to do,” she said.

After being in remission for a year, the cancer came back, but this time in Amber’s left knee. “It was a whole turn around and a new game plan, but I was most sad knowing I had to get my left leg amputated. That was a very big pill to swallow. But I know what I had to do and the right choice to make,” she said.

Amber’s family, her boyfriend and his family have been Amber’s biggest supporters through this whole process, as well as her doctors for making sure she’s taken care of properly. She says the two things getting her through the whole process is her support group and God.

Because of the amputation, the cancer was finally removed from Amber’s left leg. But she still had a battle to fight. The cancer had then moved to her left lung.

“I have been through so much, but I never gave up. People tell me all the time, ‘You are a very positive person to be going through what you have been going through for 4 years,’ And I tell them that if I didn’t have God and wasn’t always positive, I would be a wreck trying to deal with something like this at the age of 23,” said Amber.

Amber says her purpose for telling her story is to let people know to not give up and to keep pushing.

“It can get hard and sometimes you feel like giving up. But with God with me, I know he is not leaving me because I’m still alive and despite everything I have going on with my health, I chose to put my story out to let everyone who is fighting any health battles know that telling your story helps so many other people to be positive and to know that they’re okay,” she said.

Amber says to always put God first and supportive people behind you. “God will never give you a battle he knows you can’t fight. Me having cancer has really made me a very strong young woman. I’m going to beat my cancer and continue to tell people my story because most people wouldn’t even know I have cancer without telling them. Just because I’m sick doesn’t mean I have to show it,” she said.

“I live my life normally despite me having to re-adjust now that I’m an amputee, but I’m still getting around with my wheelchair and just going through life as I normally would. That is my cancer journey story, and with me talking about something like this, I truly hope my story helps someone else know that you’re okay. And to always keep God first,” said Amber.

Amber has multiple fundraising accounts for donations. To donate, contact Amber directly or check the information listed on her #teamAmber flyer.