Dr. Natalie Grubbs

27/01/2023

Experiencing blood cancer as a Black woman and as a mom feels isolating at times. These parts of my identity make my experience different from many of those that I was reading about or seeing represented. My identity doesn’t always feel "centered" throughout my treatment and recovery, and I have to advocate for myself. Plus, since my initial diagnosis in March, I have had to stay away from work, church, and all of the places I regularly find community because I'm immunocompromised. I started Carpool to Chemo as a way to find community with other moms dealing with cancer. It's also a way to tell my story from my perspective, in hopes that others will either see themselves reflected in my experience or be more aware of the diversity within cancer communities.

Thank you Stephanie for your important work in using your art to raise awareness of the diversity within the cancer community. Follow Stephanie at !

19/12/2022

When you’re a parent in treatment for cancer, you find yourself even more frequently being summoned to play when all you really want to do is throw on your pajamas and get into bed. Check out my for ideas on games you can play with your kids while recovering from treatment.

19/12/2022

Cancer treatment is exhausting. Get five ideas for entertaining kids while lying down on my latest blog post.

09/12/2022

“Show a photo of you smiling and appearing to be strong when in actuality you were at your lowest.”

This photo was taken by my mom October. I had just been told my cancer was back. I was admitted into the hospital immediately for another round of induction chemotherapy.

One of my doctors stated “This isn’t a battle we always win.” I was SO scared. Not for me. For my children. I don’t want to leave them. I wanted to know if this was the end of my battle but I didn’t want to ask. It seemed like no one knew what to say to me. We were all, including my medical team, shocked.

I spoke to my therapist soon after, and she encouraged me to channel my fear and worry into something more productive. That’s when the idea for Carpool to Chemo came. I needed community with people who do know what to say because they’ve lived it or are living it. I wanted to help others by telling my story and sharing what I know.

It almost makes me cry to look at this photo, because you can see the pain and fear in my eyes. But it’s a reminder of the hope and faith that has carried me through and will continue to carry me.

thank you for the idea and for sharing your story and the stories of others!

29/11/2022

Half day at the clinic today. Needed a blood transfusion to recover my post-chemo counts. Hubby is on carpool duty today. Looking forward to heading home soon to catch up on how the school day went! For now, I’m enjoying a little clinic Christmas music.

29/11/2022

It’s ! Shout out your favorite organization in the comments!

22/11/2022

A good reminder from . As cancer patients, we often grieve the people we were before diagnosis. Furthermore, the road ahead of us can feel daunting at times. Breath in. Breath out. Take time to be grateful for the progress you’ve made.

21/11/2022

Hello! My mission is to provide support for moms with cancer and to support their mental health through the sharing of resources and my own personal insights. When I was diagnosed with acute leukemia in March, one of the first things I noticed was the lack of resources and awareness of the unique issues and challenges moms facing cancer deal with on a daily basis. Together we can change that! Click on the link in my bio to follow my blog and join me on this important mission.

18/11/2022

You are not alone in this journey! Click on the link in my bio to see how Carpool to Chemo can support moms with cancer.

18/11/2022

The holiday season is here! These are great tips for facing the holidays post-diagnosis.

The holiday season is here! After a cancer diagnosis, the holidays may pose new challenges for patients and their families. Patients may not feel well enough to participate in all...