At the start of 2024, Baillie Frieden would never have guessed before the year was out, she’d consider the Stillwater Cancer Center a second home. She said the comfort and strength she found within those walls kept her going through one of the hardest years of her life.

Baillie is a fighter. She was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at 16. Crohn’s is a chronic, inflammatory bowel disease that affects the digestive tract. There is no cure, and she has struggled to find effective treatments. Chronic pain, daily medications and frequent doctor visits are a regular part of her life.

“Because of Crohn’s, I’ve always known I’m more likely to get cancer. I just thought it was something I’d have to worry about in my 50s. I never imagined being diagnosed with cancer at 33,” Baillie said.

Just a few weeks after her 33rd birthday, she went to the emergency room with severe pain in her abdomen. Scans showed nine masses on her liver, and, within the week, she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.

Baillie said her thoughts immediately went to her family. Her husband, Bret, and their two young children, Olivia, 10, and Oliver, 2. Her focus became being present for as much of their lives as possible.

She had to act swiftly and met with oncologist Dr. Akin Ogundipe, “Dr. O,” to discuss an aggressive course of treatment. Before they could begin, Baillie needed emergency surgery to remove a blockage in her colon. Dr. Cara Pence performed the surgery.

“Those first few appointments were so tough,” Baillie said. “Dr. O and Dr. Pence were honest with me. They told me exactly what I was facing. But they also asked what my goals were so we could determine the best path forward.”

After a successful operation, she began treatment at the Cancer Center, which wasn’t entirely unfamiliar territory for her. Her mother-in-law, Pam Frieden, has worked there for many years. Yet, she describes herself as quiet and a bit skeptical at first. It wasn’t long before her outlook changed.

“They’re all so welcoming and so nice,” Baillie said. “There are hard days going through this. When you walk in and have people there who are so excited to see you, it makes all the difference. I didn’t dread going there. I looked forward to it. It felt like I was going from one home to another one.”

Her body responded well to the 12 rounds of treatment, which she completed on October 8. She will be on maintenance medication for the rest of her life but is grateful to have more time with her children. They look forward to all 2025 has in store.

“I’ve had a lot of people ask, ‘How do you stay so positive?’ Honestly, I’ve done nothing but grow closer to God since the beginning of this whole thing. He has the power to change my circumstances. I have a wonderful support system, and I’m not going to count myself out,” Baillie said.

Being able to receive treatment close to home and under the care of world-class professionals has given her great comfort.

“A lot of people think they need to go somewhere else to get quality care. I understand that fear. But I’ve been other places, and I can tell you, I’d much rather be here,” Baillie said. “I could not have made it through this situation without the team at the Cancer Center.”