Amidst life’s storms, there shines a story of resilience. Meet Lillian DeShields, a mother, a lover of plants, a cancer survivor, and a person passionate about her next phase of life.
Lillian lost her home due to the rising costs in her Northwest DC neighborhood. This loss caused the unraveling of her family unit and pushed her into the shelter system.
After cycling through periods of homelessness, Lilian found refuge with Community of Hope, securing temporary housing through The Bridge program. This initiative provides comprehensive support, such as goal-oriented case management, assistance in locating affordable housing, and access to employment, training, and emotional wellness services.
Just one month after entering stable housing at The Bridge at Girard, Lillian was diagnosed with breast cancer. “Breast cancer, those words scared me to be honest” says Lillian. Lillian was able to rely on the security of our Bridge program while beginning a new health journey requiring two rounds of chemotherapy. This took a toll on her overall well-being, leaving her unable to work and find a different apartment during treatment.
Despite the challenges of her breast cancer diagnosis, she faced each day with resilience and determination, navigating through the difficult journey with strength and courage. Lillian never gave up. “This was my battle, and my fight,” she said. Lillian saw her children gather back around her through the cancer journey! She leaned on her new Bridge network including staff, therapist, case manager, and neighbors to help her through. Every little bit of help lightened her load—including when people would help her with her laundry or check in on her after treatments.
Having a safe place to stay at The Bridge during her cancer treatments allowed her a place to rest and heal.
She was also able to spend her time diving into new interests. Due to the support of volunteers and enriching programs at The Bridge at Girard, Lillian began writing poems and caring for plants. She happily describes her love for plants as a connection to taking care of herself—she’s even named one after herself and her late mother. “I put my remission badge right in the center as a reminder every time I water it,” says Lillian.
To wrap up this chapter of Lillian’s journey, after two years, she received some fantastic news! This month, she’ll be moving into her very own apartment. What excites her the most is having her own kitchen, space to call her own, and of course, the patio. “I know my plants will get lots of sunlight,” she chuckles.
Now in remission, Lillian is looking forward to getting back to work soon. She and her case worker updated her resume so that she can start applying for jobs and she’s excited to have that be a part of her next journey.
From facing homelessness to battling breast cancer, she persevered with courage. Now, she’s ready to embrace the next chapter with optimism and determination.
Have you seen Lillian in our recent video? Click here to watch!
