09/01/2026
September MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Ava Rayborn
My Cancer Story
In May 2024, I found a lump.
On July 9, 2024, a biopsy revealed that I had Stage 3B Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. In an instant, life changed. What followed was a journey I never expected to walk—one filled with difficult treatments, uncertainty, physical challenges, countless prayers, and moments when I had to place my trust in God one day at a time.
Over the next year and a half, I completed six months of IV chemotherapy and immunotherapy. I underwent a double mastectomy with combination reconstruction on April 7, 2025. I completed 25 rounds of radiation on July 1, 2025. On July 31, 2025, a CT scan showed No Evidence of Disease.
My journey continued with six cycles of oral chemotherapy over four months, followed by nine additional rounds of immunotherapy with Keytruda. On January 29, 2026, I completed my final treatment and had the incredible privilege of ringing the bell.
That moment represented more than the end of treatment. It represented 569 days—13,656 hours, 81 weeks and 2 days, or 18 months and 20 days—of fighting, healing, enduring, hoping, and praying.
Through every appointment, every treatment, every unknown, and every difficult day, God was faithful.
There were times when I did not know what the next step would hold, but God steadily made a way. He gave me strength when I was weak, peace when I was afraid, and hope when the road felt long. My faith carried me through moments when I might otherwise have given up. I believe every prayer was heard, and I am deeply grateful for God’s mercy, healing, strength, and faithfulness.
I also did not walk this journey alone.
My husband, children, parents, family, friends, church family, medical team, and countless people who prayed for me surrounded me with love and support. Their prayers, encouragement, kindness, and presence carried me through more than they may ever know.
I recognize that many people fighting cancer do not get the opportunity to reach the milestone of completing treatment or ringing the bell. I hold that truth with humility and deep gratitude. I will never take this moment for granted.
Today, I am thankful that this chapter of active cancer treatment is over. But recovery is still a journey. I am continuing to rebuild my strength, care for my body, grow in faith, and discover what God has planned for me each day.
Cancer changed my life, but it did not define the purpose of my life.
My story is one of faith over fear, hope through uncertainty, strength in weakness, and gratitude in every season. It is a testimony of God’s faithfulness and the power of prayer, love, community, and perseverance.
I don’t know everything the future holds, but I know Who holds my future.
And by the grace of God…
I MADE IT.
Hallelujah. Thank You, Lord.
Ten months ago, a friend who teaches at 7P Fit invited me to come to a class. I knew I needed to start moving again.
Cancer treatment had taken so much from me—my strength, endurance, energy, rest, and, at times, even parts of my joy. I didn’t begin working out because I felt strong. I started because I knew I needed to rebuild what cancer had taken.
Since then, functional strength training and barre have become my primary forms of exercise. What started as simply showing up and moving again has become an important part of my recovery.
Exercise has improved my mood. It has helped me regain strength and endurance. I’m sleeping and resting better. It has reminded me that my body is capable of healing, adapting, and becoming strong again—even after everything it has been through.
When treatment ended, I expected there would be a clear roadmap for what came next: specific guidance on how to reduce my risk of recurrence, what I could actively do, and how to move forward with confidence.
Instead, much of survivorship can feel like “watch and wait.”
For me, that wasn’t enough.
I started reading and researching everything I could find about recurrence prevention for triple-negative breast cancer. The reality is that there is still very limited research offering specific prevention guidance for people with TNBC. But one area that continues to stand out is physical activity—especially regular moderate-to-vigorous exercise and strength training.
So I decided that fitness would be one of the ways I would take an active role in my health.
I can’t control every outcome. Exercise is not a guarantee, and I would never claim that it can prevent recurrence. But I can support my body, build strength, improve my endurance, care for my mental health, and give myself something meaningful to do instead of living only in fear and waiting.
Every class is a choice to invest in my future.
Every weight I lift is a reminder of how far I’ve come.
Every time I move—even when it’s hard—I’m choosing strength over fear and action over helplessness.
But I could not have done any of this without my faith in God.
He has steadily made a way for me, winning my battles daily. Without my faith, I would have given up a long time ago. Through every difficult day, every unknown, every fear, and every mountain that felt too large to climb, God has continued to carry me forward.
Looking back, I can see how He was already making a way before I even knew what I needed.
He placed Hannah—my friend and instructor at 7P Fit—in my path at a golf tournament raising money for families going through cancer. At the time, I didn’t know how meaningful that connection would become.
Then, on my first day at 7P Fit, I learned that it was a gym centered around both God and fitness.
I immediately called it a Godwink.
Having a place where I could work out, rebuild my strength, and also find faith, support, encouragement, and fellowship among the instructors and members was the whole package. It was more than a gym. It became a place where I could strengthen my body while also being reminded that I didn’t have to carry this journey alone.
You can’t move mountains without God.
And my recovery is a giant mountain that I will not traverse alone.
I’m not working out because I’m trying to erase what cancer did. I’m working out because I’m rebuilding what cancer interrupted.
My body carried me through cancer treatment. God carried me through the moments when I didn’t know if I could keep going. Now, I’m choosing to care for my body, challenge it, strengthen it, and trust God with every step ahead.
I don’t know what the future holds, but I know Who holds my future.
This is not about being perfect. It’s about showing up.
One class. One workout. One prayer. One stronger day at a time. 💪🎗️🙏
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13
