A Family Scare That Turned into a Mission

I’ve been with Paylocity for a little over four years. Every year, I’d see the notifications about the Elevate Your Passions (EYP) Grant in Community, an opportunity for employees to nominate an organization close to their hearts to receive financial support from Paylocity Gives, our Corporate Social Responsibility team.

For years, I never had a cause to nominate. That changed last year.

In March 2025, my husband and I took three of our kids on a family trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas. I couldn’t tell you exactly why I picked that destination; it just felt right. Hot Springs is a typical tourist town filled with shops and attractions, but we wanted something different. So, I filled our itinerary with mountain hikes.

During our very first hike, something felt wrong.

My 45-year-old husband Jeff, who is typically unstoppable, the “bull in a China shop” type, was winded and struggled with an elevated heart rate. He had to stop several times, both up and down the trail. Something so out of character, it alarmed me. By day three, I made the call: we were going home to see the doctor.

His primary care doctor ran labs. Aside from low iron, everything looked normal. She recommended a colonoscopy purely because of his age, 45, and scheduled it for late June. There was no urgency.

But that appointment changed our lives. We walked out with a cancer diagnosis we never expected.

On July 17, my husband underwent surgery to remove a large portion of his colon. Afterward, the surgeon told us something that still stops me in my tracks: without the procedure, in three weeks, there would have been no option for surgery; we would have been preparing for the worst.

We also learned he has Lynch Syndrome, a genetic condition that drastically increases the likelihood of recurring colorectal cancer to potentially 70% and puts him at risk for many other cancers.

Thanks to Paylocity’s exceptional health insurance, we were able to get him into City of Hope for top-tier care and have our sons tested for Lynch Syndrome. Our 18-year-old tested positive. As difficult as that news was, we consider it a gift—early knowledge means early monitoring, and hopefully, early detection.

Another silver lining emerged: Jeff’s story inspired many of our male relatives and friends to schedule colonoscopies. Awareness truly saves lives. 

The whirlwind of 2025 brought fear, exhaustion, and moments that felt heavier than I can put into words. But alongside that came tremendous support—from Paylocity’s benefits and from my team. My team stepped up and made sure I knew that I was supported when I needed to step away from my responsibilities here for a short time and focus on my husband’s recovery and my own mental health.

One of the most meaningful resources we found during this time was the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, whose work directly supports patients, families, and prevention efforts.

For the first time, I knew exactly which organization I wanted to nominate for the Elevate Your Passions grant.

Through all the chaos, uncertainty, and heartache, Paylocity and Paylocity Gives played a real role in helping my family navigate this journey. From the benefits that allowed us to get the best care, to the team that supported me every step of the way, to the opportunity to elevate a cause deeply tied to our story — I am profoundly grateful.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.