Toni Neri was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in early July. “I went in for COVID and came out with cancer,” she said.

Toni had been feeling more tired every month for two years but didn’t realize she was anemic. She was two pints low from an internal bleed. Doctors found a malignant tumor at the base of her esophagus. After several rounds of chemo and radiation throughout summer and fall, she rang the bell to celebrate the end of treatment on Nov. 14, 2023, at the UCHealth Cancer Center in Fort Collins.

In February 2023, a PET scan showed no evidence of cancer. She was among 18 cancer warriors honored at “Eagles Fight Cancer” night, UCHealth’s collaboration with the Colorado Eagles hockey team. She waved to the crowd from her perch on the Zamboni between first and second periods.

Since her fight against esophageal cancer, Toni said she’s looking forward to returning to her life with her husband in their mountain town, Walden. She’s the mother of three and grandmother of four as well as a food pantry volunteer and museum docent. “One day at a time,” she said. “You put your trust in your doctors and your God.”