Meet the Models: Anya Huston

Meet the Models: Anya’s Story – The Strength in Showing Up

When Anya was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was blindsided. She had convinced herself it was nothing—just a precautionary visit, not something serious. But then she heard the word: cancer.

“I was in complete shock. I didn’t know how to feel, what to think, or even how to act. I didn’t know how to tell my children. I could barely process it myself.”

That time between diagnosis and a defined treatment plan was the hardest. The uncertainty. The weight of having to be the calm, steady one for her daughters, Mila and Kaia, while she was still trying to steady herself.

Thankfully, she didn’t have to do it alone.

“My partner, Clint, my kids, my family, my friends, my neighborhood community—they carried me through. I learned just how much I needed them, and how much I could rely on them.”

One of the most impactful gestures came from her neighbors, who quietly organized a meal train and playdates for her daughters during her surgery and recovery.

“I didn’t realize how necessary it would be, but it changed everything. It gave me permission to focus on healing while knowing my family was taken care of.”

Anya's treatment plan included hormone therapy—something that was presented as “simple” and “straightforward” by her doctors. But it turned out to be anything but.

“I felt awful. I didn’t expect how sick I would feel. Eventually, I opted to have my ovaries removed as an alternative, and it was absolutely the right decision for me.”

Now on the other side of active treatment, Anya reflects not just on what she endured—but on what truly mattered most.

“The people who showed up. That’s what I remember. Not the big speeches or the perfect words, but the meals, the texts, the people who came and sat with me. They didn’t try to fix it. They just stayed close.”

Her advice to others facing a diagnosis is gentle and wise:

“Take it one step at a time. Don’t feel like you have to be strong all the time or have all the answers. Every emotion is valid. There’s no one right way—just your way.”

And to those supporting someone with cancer, she offers this reminder:

“Don’t wait to be asked. Offer specific help. Drop off a meal. Pick up the kids. Sit with them. Listen. And most of all—keep checking in, even after the initial rush of support fades. Just be there.”

At Runway for Recovery, we honor Anya’s quiet courage, her honesty, and her deep belief in the power of community. Her story reminds us that healing isn’t just medical—it’s emotional, logistical, and deeply human. And sometimes, the greatest strength is simply letting others help you stand.