For April Lenarz, life has always centered around the people she loves the most. A proud mother of four – three daughters and one son – and grandmother to five grandchildren with one more on the way, April has always put her family first. That deep love and strong family bond would become her support system when life took an unexpected and painful turn.

In December 2024, just a week before Christmas, she began experiencing severe arm pain. At first, she feared she might be having a heart attack and went to an urgent care facility. They quickly sent her to the Emergency Department.

After an initial evaluation, she was sent home but was asked to return the next morning. That decision may have saved her life. When she came back, she was admitted, and a series of tests revealed the devastating news: aggressive metastatic breast cancer that had already spread to her bones.

The cancer had caused two tumors in her back, leading to broken vertebrae and eliminating surgery as an option. The diagnosis was life-changing – not only for her but for her entire family.

Despite the fear and uncertainty, she found comfort and strength in the care she received. One pivotal moment came when she met Dr. Aarthi Rajkumar, oncologist with the Aultman Cancer Center, who didn’t just treat her condition, but also demonstrated how much she cared about April as a person.

Sitting beside April on the hospital bed, Dr. Rajkumar cried with her. That gesture of compassion and empathy left a lasting impression. “She is amazing,” April said. “I cannot express how much I appreciate her.”

Radiation treatments were another hurdle in the journey, but thanks to Dr. Eric Olyejar, medical director of the Aultman Cancer Center and radiation oncologist, those sessions became a little more bearable. With gentleness and support, Dr. Olyejar helped April find moments of calm during the storm.

April wanted to try to bear her immense pain without any interventions. Having seen a family member go through pain management and palliative care, April was against taking anything to help relieve her symptoms.

But after talking with Dr. Jeffrey Marsh, medical director of Aultman Hospice, she relented. April is truly grateful for the relief. “It took Dr. Marsh a while to get me to understand the benefits, but I am so thankful now that he took the time to explain everything to me,” she said.

Her treatment plan has been intense: radiation, monthly infusions, oral chemotherapy, bone-strengthening injections and pain management. Through it all, her husband and children have been by her side. Their love and dedication have formed a powerful support system that lifts her up on the hardest days.

This journey has been deeply personal and deeply transformative. It has changed the way she and her family see life, love and time. Now more than ever, they treasure every moment.

Her message to others is to be persistent and advocate for yourself. She added that if something doesn’t feel right, get it checked. And if there’s a family history of cancer, don’t wait – get tested. Early detection can make all the difference.

April continues to fight, to hope and to pray for good news. Through it all, one truth remains constant in her life: Family is everything.