The Big C Word

Jen Yund
5 days ago
5 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

Stories of Courage, Community, and Comeback.

When faced with a cancer diagnosis, some people retreat inward. Others, like Buffalo locals, Kimberly and Sophia, choose to lean into their communities and use their experiences to lift others up. Their stories show how finding your tribe, and helping others find theirs, can transform not just a diagnosis, but an entire community’s approach to facing life’s biggest challenges.

A Note from Our Editors:

While we typically focus on uplifting content, cancer has been hitting our hearts a little heavier recently, affecting our friends, families, and locals we care about. We felt called to address this difficult topic because sometimes the most meaningful support comes from acknowledging hard truths alongside hope. If this article brings comfort, guidance, or even a moment of connection to just one person, then we’ve done our part. – Sarah & Kara

Kimberly LaRussa

If you’ve been in Western New York in recent years, chances are you’ve come across Kimberly LaRussa’s work—whether or not you know her name. She’s the force behind Sweet Buffalo, Buddy’s Second Chance Rescue, Ten Lives Club promotions, and even those hidden, painted rocks with uplifting messages.

Nine years ago, Kimberly launched Sweet Buffalo (@SweetBuffalo716), a digital platform focused on sharing good news and supporting kids, families, animals, and non-profits. Her background in journalism, public speaking, and public relations helps drive her mission in this lasting network of care and community. From Sweet Buffalo Monday on News 4 Buffalo to segments supporting Buddy’s Second Chance Rescue, Kimberly uses her voice and skills to help others. She also founded Sweet Buffalo Rocks to raise funds and spread kindness, efforts that now inspire businesses and individuals to reach out for help achieving their own goals.

In December 2024, Kimberly received the diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma HER2 positive, a type of breast cancer. To date Kimberly has undergone 12 weeks of chemotherapy, entered a clinical study at Roswell to receive targeted treatment for her type of cancer, and a lumpectomy. She is currently cancer free but still faces another year of targeted treatment and radiation. Through it all, she has continued to work. She said her work helped with her treatments, inspiring her to keep going. Additionally, as part of the study, she had a service dog with her during treatments, which she says also made a huge difference. Before her diagnosis she already had a strong drive to help, but after experiencing it herself, “I understand so much better and can help so much more.”

This year she is the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” Executive Ambassador. Her goal is to raise at least $10,000, and no surprise, she’s not waiting until the walk in October to do so. She is working through the “Pink Summer” with the Pink Buffalo Club to maximize the time to raise funds for the event as well as to raise awareness. One of Kimberly’s main goals is for people to understand they don’t need to suffer alone; everyone should have a tribe, and the work she does is to help provide people with a tribe of their own.

Kimberly was already a strong community builder, and her experience with cancer let her experience first-hand the community she’s helping create. It has helped give her the courage to keep going and has spurred her to continue her work with an even stronger sense of purpose.

Sophia Baudo

Sophia Baudo is NOT your average teenager. At least, not the picture many of us have in our heads of millennial teens. Sophia IS, however, very much a Gen Z teen. True to her generation, she desires to create positive change, is open about discussing mental health and prioritizing well-being, seeks a career that offers meaning and purpose, and is incredibly authentic. And, oh yeah, she’s almost one year into remission from Stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Sophia wasn’t feeling great when she started her senior year of high school at Nardin Academy, but she just assumed it was a cold. By January 2024, they found out it was much worse: she had cancer. Initially, Sophia says she felt scared, terrified, and angry. After a week or so, she spoke with her dance instructors from Company Eight Dance Studio, Miss Jen and Miss Colleen, and they helped her realize that in dance they are constantly fighting in technique, truly fighting for everything in competition. From those conversations, Sophia resolved to just “fight the diagnosis just like I learned to fight in dance.”

And fight she did. Her mindset went from fear and anger to opportunity. She saw her experience as a way to show people that her diagnosis didn’t have to define her or be the end of her life. She thought hopefully they would feel the same if ever faced with such a diagnosis. When she posted on her socials after losing her hair with chemotherapy, non-profit groups such as Sweet Buffalo reached out with help. Sophia and her family were incredibly grateful for the financial support that came, but even more so for the emotional support they offered her entire family. Sophia learned first-hand how important it is to have a tribe to support you.

As a senior in high school, Sophia really didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life. For college all she could think about was majoring in dance at the University of Alabama and being a member of their dance team. While her diagnosis changed things, dance was not out of her life.

Company Eight Dance Studio went out of its way to make sure she could still dance throughout her 12 weeks of chemotherapy and beyond. They offered to do whatever it would take to make her comfortable so she could keep dancing, which helped her so much through the treatments. As a competitive dancer, attendance is key, but she wasn’t pressured, simply allowed to do what she loved as she could.

As a dancer, Sophia was familiar with the non-profit Dancers Give Back (DGB), because she had danced at their events. DGB began 14 years ago to support the Jacquie Hirsch for A.L.L. Foundation, founded to honor Jacquie Hirsch, a friend who passed away due to Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia at age 23. The event includes studios and dancers from across New York and has raised nearly one million dollars for cancer patient support and research. After Sophia’s diagnosis, DGB reached out to Sophia’s family, offering financial support and the opportunity to volunteer teach a class for them. Her passion for dance and giving back became key parts of her fight.

What may have had the largest impact on Sophia, though, are the psychologists she worked with at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Oishei Children’s Hospital. Sophia now attends the University of Buffalo, aiming to be a psychologist like the ones she worked with through her treatment.

While Sophia still has many scans and doctors appointments ahead of her the next few years, she is energized to be a positive force. Besides school and a nannying job, she keeps busy teaching dance, helping with Kailee’s Kindness events, and volunteering with groups like Ride for Roswell, Courage for Carly, anywhere she can help. Her passion is contagious, and it is no surprise to find that her friends, her tribe, are by her side, volunteering every step of the way.