Over the past 12 years our TEAM of "Angels" has graciously volunteered their time to raise money for various non-profit charities in honor and now in memory of Celene's Mom, Claudia Knaus who was a breast cancer survivor for over 21 years. Claudia went "home" on March 14, 2015.
On April 23, 2018, at 9:00 while at work in a Medical Office, Celene would receive the phone call from her doctor that nobody wants to receive, it was that moment that changed her life in an instant. Now she would face a breast cancer diagnosis and journey.
Celene underwent a partial mastectomy 5/22/2018 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America, who would have thought the surgery was the easy part? She would also require chemotherapy and radiation therapy with this diagnosis.
Through the following months she would learn firsthand the many struggles of going through treatment, being unable to work, the financial impact, and the emotional impact on her and her family. With 9 major hospitalizations, from everything from bilateral pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in both lungs) to sepsis infection, neutropenia, and various other issues due to infection and chemo complications. As she pushed forward, many of her lifelong friends would step forward to help her - childhood friends, grade school, middle school and high school friends and family and extended family would step forward to "help brighten her days" and provide meals, various gifts and most importantly prayers.
Her gratitude for her family and friends (She calls ANGELS) who rallied around her and helped her in so many way, she knew she was very blessed. It was during this time it was clear and we realized the need of forming a non-profit charity to help others who may not have the support she received.
Currently, Celene was diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer on 2/21/2020 and she underwent partial mastectomy on 3/24/2020 and several weeks later started radiation treatment which completed on 6/8/2020. With many ailments from her journey, she continues treatment for various post- diagnosis complications and is slowly beginning to regain her independence and wellness.
As her close family and friends we wanted Celene's dream to come true, the dream of helping others who struggle during treatment. The dream to help in the form a non-profit in her honor to cheer her on and in celebration of her mother Claudia's life. It was through these journeys Celene's Angels was founded.