I tried to break up a dog fight and got bit. I waited two days to go to the doctor (You big dummy). Went into a walkin clinic. They told me to get to Vanderbilt and get to Vanderbilt fast. Nine days later, I had three surgeries to keep my hand. On my second surgery, they asked me if I wanted my finger completely straight or have a bend? I said I would rather be able to box than have a straight hand. Little did I know that the reason why my hand would be curved was because I’m gonna fight for my life moving forward. (Go to the doctor)

I went to the plastic surgeon for an implant exchange. The doctor asked, “Would you like to get tested for breast cancer?” It will cost a little more. I said, “why not, you will have me wide open.” That test Saved my life.

I chose a double mastectomy, even though the cancer was only in my right breast. They said I had a 3 to 5% chance of it coming back. I was thinking one and done but, God was not done working on me. When I came out of surgery, the plastic surgeon said to me “I have never seen anything like it” I said what? He said your right implant was sideways. Well, yeah because I’m pissed, I got cancer. Kickboxing was my release. I was so mad and so frustrated!!!! That was my only outlet to let go of the pain and fear I had inside my body. I AM CANCER FREE.

My very best friend Jennifer in this life was faced with her/my bonus mom dying in the hospital, and her person Joe, with an aortic aneurysm and both of them were in 2 different hospitals at the same time. We bounced back-and-forth hospital to hospital. Only one made it, Joe. We laid Momma Darlene to rest while Joe was in a coma.

In my head I wanted a tattoo that represents me and my daddy. And so the drawings started. This is what I came up with. Wings for Daddy. Cancer ribbon for me. I was born a Jones and will die a Jones. We are both tough AF. He fought until his very last breath and so will I.

I felt something wasn’t right. I went to the doctor and got a biopsy, and it was by Benign. I told Dr. Baskin something was not right. She says Covid was everywhere and your immune system is down and you could end up with Covid or staph infection. Both will kill you. Let’s wait six months. But I know you, you will want it taken out. You are damn right I wanted it taken out.

I was at a birthday party walking down the stairs outside, I missed the last step and broke my left leg in 3 places. Now I know how Connor McGregor feels. This had to be the absolute most pain I had ever been in, in my life. The first couple of weeks were really hard, and I thought I was going to die, but I kept praying and he got me through the valley. Once I got through that, I was bound and determined to get better and get better early. They told me 12 weeks to recover; I did it in 10 weeks! They told me that I would not be able to ever kick box again. I am stronger than ever!

I went in for my routine checkup and they found 3 spots. After 3 very painful biopsies, 2 spots are cancer. My mom was with me when I found this out. I went out to get my car and I said “God, I cannot do this again”. I will tell you this, when you tell someone that you have cancer 1,2,3 times, they look at you like you are already dead. It is harder for you to tell someone you have cancer, than for you to deal with living and knowing that you have cancer. So, my advice is when somebody says “I have cancer” don’t look at them like they are already dead.

Once I leave there and she gives me a surgery date, I plan everything and tell no one. At this point, I am tired of telling people that I have cancer and they look at me like I am already dead. Again, I am mom’s primary caregiver. What will she do when I am gone? I know I am going to die this time, so I plan everything. I plan my funeral and pay for it. I have letters to my mom, Jennifer, my boyfriend, and my job. I am going to surgery, knowing that I am going to heaven. I tell my doctor thank you for everything, knowing it is my last breath. I thought I knew it was, but God had a bigger plan.

My hair started falling out by the handfuls from all the medications. I was not trying to hold onto something that’s not holding onto me. I got my head shaved by Michael Jeffcoat at The Spot in Nashville, TN.

Survivor Fitness asked me to do an interview/promotion with news channel 2.

My mom goes to get a booster shot for Covid; she started to go downhill rapidly after this for the next year. She called me a couple of days later and says “Necy please don’t freak out, but I’m in the hospital. What? Why? Dr. Bishop wanted me to go in because I am dehydrated.” This was the beginning of the end for us. She starts to have all kinds of medical problems. We went to every doctor known to man and no one could figure out what is going on.

Fun fact about my mom is that she was bipolar manic depressive. She could manage on her own, but the demons inside her brain were nothing like I’ve ever seen. The doctor kept her on multiple medicines to make her happy. One of those was Effexor. She decided right before my 50th birthday trip with my girls that she wanted to be off Effexor and go back on Prozac. She was my mom, so I respected her wishes. I have been around a lot of crazy things in my life, but her coming off Effexor was worse than any drug addiction I have ever witnessed. I went on my trip and when I came back, we planned to go to Florida for Christmas. For whatever reason about 3 o’clock in the morning, the day before we were supposed to leave, mom fell down the stairs into her living room. She had some bruising on her back but no broken bones or anything like that. Now mind you, she was trying to come off her medication, and she fell down the stairs. I asked her if she would please let me take her to the doctor and she said no. I went downstairs to check on her. I said mom you need to go to the doctor. She said wait until after Christmas. Christmas comes and I tell her again. She said please let us just wait until after New Year’s. I went upstairs and I started to pray. I prayed for the right answer. I took her to Vanderbilt psychiatric ward because I thought it was the medication that was making her crazy. I thought that was the problem. We got there and they wanted to do an exam to make sure that she is ok since she did have an accident. We learned she had a brain bleed from the fall.

Friday evening, I got home from work, and my sister said mom really needs to go back to the hospital. I said to Diane she will die. I cannot do it. Again, we have been to every doctor under the planet, and nobody could figure out what was going on with her. We had an appointment Monday for the Neurologist. Mom looked at me and said I cannot do it. I am so tired of going to these doctors and nobody knows what’s going on. I said OK mom. That is when I called Hospice. They came on Monday.

I woke up and something was different. My sister was here and I said OK. Today is going to be about nothing but love. We saged the house, she loved those long skinny Hispanic candles, so we lit them by her bed. We have K-love playing all day. All the family had made it to town by then. I went and picked up her best friend so she could visit with her. I gave her, her last dose of medicine, and she took her last breath. God gave me the strength and the ability to let mom to pass away at home, in her bed, surrounded by love and not alone. Rowdy cried 2 tears by her side. Even though she was being cremated, I was able to dress her up before they took her away.

At her funeral, we released doves. When we released those doves, all of the pain, all of the worry, all of the troubles disappeared as I raised my hands to heaven. The next morning, I woke up and I did it. I made it one day past mom. God gave me those eight months of taking care of her so I would be able to do everything for this foundation. The Happy, the Sad, the Good, the Bad and everything between.

Josh and April called me and asked me to speak at the Ryman. Are you kidding me right now? Of course I said yes. Another epic night, another chance to give people hope and strength.

My favorite day! The walk. This year I will do it big!!! We made BUILT JONES TOUGH shirts, goodie bags, and raised the most money again. All of my siblings, most of my family, and my closest friends attended. We showed up and showed out!!!! My niece Casey made a video of the day. I watched it, cried, got on my knees, and thanked God. It was time and now I know my PURPOSE, this foundation.

Built Jones Tough Foundation Launches! LET’S GO!!! Happy Heavenly Birthday Daddy. It all started with a drawing for me and you.