253. We Got This: Thriving Through Cancer, Grief, and Community with Elissa

Update: 2025-09-24

Description

In this heartfelt episode of Girl, Take the Lead!, I sit down with Elissa Kalver, Millennial author of We Got This, stage 4 metastatic breast cancer thriver, nonprofit founder, and advocate for re-imagining how we support one another through life’s hardest challenges.

Elissa shares how her diagnosis just before her daughter’s first birthday reshaped her perspective on life, grief, and community — and how it led to her mission of normalizing support through her groundbreaking nonprofit registry, WeGotThis.org.

Timestamps:

00:28 – Elissa’s diagnosis and redefining survival
02:26 – Her book We Got This and what it means to “beat” cancer
04:40 – “Surviving is not enough”: choosing to thrive
07:59 – Clarity in the midst of trauma
11:19 – Lessons from grief
13:36 – Why community and action matter in grief and healing
18:46 – Passage from her book on grief as cancer’s parallel
24:15 – Honoring the journey: why Elissa keeps her chemo photos
25:43 – Eye-opening stats on metastatic breast cancer
29:05 – WeGotThis.org Registry: practical and joyful support
31:22 – How to donate and get involved
33:10 – Elissa’s favorite passage: “Never forget to dance”
37:18 – What she’d tell her 20-something self

Key Takeaways:

Thriving > Surviving – Elissa reminds us that it’s not enough to simply endure illness or grief; we deserve to live fully and joyfully.

Grief as Transformation – Grief can metastasize like cancer if ignored, but it can also open pathways to clarity, empathy, and new ways of living.

Redefining Support – Her nonprofit registry makes it easier for patients and families to ask for and receive help — from wigs and mouthwash to concert tickets.

Living Intentionally – Whether it’s dancing nightly with her daughter or driving an hour for the best olive oil, Elissa shows us how to savor the everyday.

Community Matters – Moving from “You got this” to We got this reflects the collective strength we find in supporting one another.

Favorite Quotes

“I don’t need to be in remission or cured to beat this. I’m beating it by living my life fully.”
“Grief, like cancer, can metastasize if ignored — but it can also transform us.”
“Even if you’re facing the trial of a lifetime, don’t forget to dance.”
“It’s not wrong to say ‘You got this.’ But ‘We got this’ feels stronger — because it’s about community.”

Resources:

Elissa’s Book: We Got This
Elissa's Websites: elissakalver.com, wegotthis.org
WeGotThis.org
Registry & Donations: wegotthis.org
Mediviver.org – for up-to-date metastatic breast cancer statistics

Store Tie-In 💌

This episode inspired new We Got This card in the Girl, Take the Lead! Heartfelt Cards & Gifts Shop — a reminder that support is stronger when shared. Send one to someone in your circle who needs to feel the we.

📬 Connect with Elissa: