250. Living With Purpose Isn’t Optional: Redefining Survivorship With Stage 4 Cancer with Elissa Kalver

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What happens when life drops you into your worst nightmare, a stage 4 metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, before your daughter’s first birthday? 

What if, instead of collapsing into fear, you choose purpose, advocacy, and a mission bigger than yourself? 

Imagine facing a terminal diagnosis and still building a movement that helps thousands of cancer patients and their loved ones feel supported, connected, and empowered. All of this happens while redefining what it means to truly live like it matters. 

In this episode, Elissa Kalver shares her extraordinary story. She navigated the darkest moments of metastatic cancer, founded We Got This, the first-ever gift registry for cancer patients, and became a fierce advocate for medical self-advocacy, community, and quality of life. 

Who is Elissa Kalver?

• A stage 4 metastatic breast cancer advocate living with a terminal diagnosis and thriving.
• Former financial services professional turned nonprofit leader, community builder, and thought leader.
• A champion of living with intention, purpose, and joy even in the hardest circumstances.
  
  

What You’ll Discover in This Episode:

• The role of purpose in building resilience through grief, illness, and uncertainty
• How to advocate for yourself in the medical system without dismissing the value of Western medicine
• How Elissa built a 12,000+ user nonprofit while undergoing treatment, Why community, connection, and storytelling are essential for healing
  
  

Why This Episode Matters:

If you've ever struggled with burnout, grief, illness, or the weight of life’s unexpected detours, Elissa’s story is a powerful reminder that meaning isn’t found in spite of hardship — it’s formed within it.

This conversation is a roadmap for choosing purpose over fear, community over isolation, and joy over mere survival. 

Connect with Elissa Kalver

• Website: https://www.elissakalver.com/ 
• Nonprofit:https://wegotthis.org/  
• Book: https://www.elissakalver.com/we-got-this

How We Can Support Adrienne—and Each Other

Our community’s love and presence are powerful. Here’s how you can become a catalyst for this shared journey of transformation:

1. Share Your Voice with an Honest Review on Apple Podcasts. Your thoughtful reviews help spread Adrienne’s message to those who need it most. Take a moment to leave a genuine review and strengthen our community together. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/health-bite/id1504295718
2. Stay connected by following Health Bite on Spotify. Share your reflections in the comments and join the conversation. Your experiences and insights add richness to our collective growth. Follow and comment on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2jwdHPnWJaoBs2ZJe0nnP6
3. Send #LoveNotes and Reach Out on Instagram. Let Adrienne know you’re walking this path with her by sending a #LoveNote or a direct message on Instagram. Your encouragement fuels her journey and fosters the connection that makes this community thrive. Adrienne’s Instagram handle here: https://www.instagram.com/dradrienneyoudim/

Together, we’re creating a space where vulnerability is met with support, and transformation is celebrated as a courageous act.