Clipped Wings and Open Courts: Julie’s Journey with Tennis Aces Cancer
The year Steve started Tennis Aces Cancer (TAC), my life was being redefined by breast cancer. For someone who had always been exceptionally active, the diagnosis felt like having my wings clipped. Suddenly, I was squeezing every part of my life around treatments, therapies, and a constant need for rest.That’s how cancer sneaks in. It quietly becomes your number one priority until it owns you. It starts to feel like “CANCER” in giant, capital letters that loom over everything you do.
Showing Up, Even from the Sidelines
Even when I couldn’t play a single point, Steve, Joyce, and the TAC team refused to let me be sidelined. They brought me into the community in ways I could actually help. Some days, I was just hearing about the latest matches from my recliner, but every day I could, I made it to the courts.
I would go to the activities and sit by the matches just to be near the game. I wasn’t there to hit a ball; I was there for the company. The TAC team made a point of making me feel like a vital part of the group, even when I was just sitting and watching. They understood that some days I wasn’t up to anything more, but they wanted me there anyway. It felt so good to give back and stay connected in the middle of my fight. It reminded me that I wasn’t “less than” just because I was temporarily out of the game.
Breaking the Grip of Fear
When the next summer rolled around, my treatment changed, and I was in a phase where I could finally consider playing again. But I was afraid. I didn’t know what my body could do anymore, and the fear of feeling “diminished” was heavy.
I’ll never forget Steve’s reaction. He didn’t bat an eye. He just said, “Let’s put you on the new USTA team; you’ll do great!” Suddenly, I wasn’t just watching from the sidelines; I was back on the court with my friends. Everyone encouraged what I could do and stayed completely unphased by the parts of my game that hadn’t quite “come back” yet. They broke the grip of fear. For those hours on the court, I wasn’t a patient. I was just me.
The Spark of the Comeback
Last spring, Steve called with news that moved me to tears: I was to be one of the first recipients of a Tennis Aces Cancer grant. I told him I was honored, but surely someone else needed that money more than I did. He told me they were honored to give back to me.
That grant was the spark I needed. I replaced my worn-out tennis shoes that had been collecting dust. I got a tennis bag that suited my “new” body and didn’t hurt to carry. I used the grant to renew my club membership, which allowed me to put my own funds toward the mountain of medical bills instead.
It pulled me back in when I might have held back. It energized me and built the excitement I needed for the comeback that was such a necessary part of my healing.
Why Your Support Matters
Every cancer journey is unique. Some are long and arduous, but every single one leaves a mark. Having a community like TAC to come alongside you and say, “Just come hang with us! We know you can’t play right now, but we want you here,” is life-changing.
It’s important to remember that this message isn’t just for the survivors—it’s for the caregivers, too. They are often worn down by this disease, carrying incredibly heavy loads while feeling guilty for being overwhelmed because the patient is “the one doing the hard stuff.” But that isn’t true. Caregivers are fighting right alongside us, and TAC is here for them, too.
Tennis Aces Cancer is a beacon of hope for everyone touched by this disease. It helps you take those giant letters of CANCER and turn them into a small, manageable cancer. It shows you that you are still healthy, you can still be active, and you can still be you.
“My journey isn’t over. I still have tests and new challenges. But I am playing, I am loving this game, and I am part of a community that never stops calling me to the court.”
— Julie TrotterMember of Tennis Aces Cancer & Breast Cancer Survivor
Help Us Reach More Survivors
Your donation to Tennis Aces Cancer directly funds grants, equipment, and memberships for survivors like Julie and the caregivers who stand by them. Help us ensure that no one has to face their journey without a team behind them.
