Family, Friends, and Medical Marijuana — Karen Balik on How She Got Through Cancer

Karen Balik was diagnosed with Stage 3C ovarian cancer when she was 52 years old. By the time her cancer was diagnosed, it has already spread to other parts of her body. After undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, Balik credits her family and friends – who were there with her every step of the way – for getting her through treatment. “They held my hand. They made sure I ate. They force fed me milkshakes. They took me to all of my appointments … they sat with me while I got chemo. They did everything for me,” Karen says.

Her family was also there when she – like a lot of survivors – decided to give medical marijuana a try to help manage the pain. “Another major first while I was going through my chemo: I got a medical marijuana card, and I got a vape pen,” Karen says. “The first time I vaped my husband and my two girls were standing around me with the iPhones videotaping … it was very cute.”