NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
While many families spent Independence Day watching fireworks, in the pool or at a barbeque, one Middle Tennessee family was just thankful to be together.
"Being close as a family, celebrating the Fourth, proud to be an American," is how Anita Trotter described the holiday.
The Trotters are cherishing another holiday together, after Anita, a 53-year-old Metro school bus driver, received a life changing diagnosis last November.
"The cancer I have is rare," Trotter told Nashville's News 2, "[Doctors] don't know a lot about it."
Trotter was diagnosed with Stage III Triple Negative breast cancer and according to her doctors, it is very aggressive.
"It's like your whole world stops [and] slow motion starts setting in," Trotter said.
Trotter has been undergoing weekly chemotherapy treatments and will soon have surgery.
She's uncertain of what's to come.
"When I asked my doctor about it, I said, ‘Can you save my life?' and she said she'd try and that's all I can ask," Trotter said, adding, "You don't think about leaving them until it's time. You don't want them to worry or stress or be scared."
Emotions aside, the family and community have rallied around Trotter who recently had to stop working because of the chemotherapy.
Family and friends have hosted yard sales, set up Web sites and will even hold a car wash this weekend to fund raise.
"I have had so many people reach out. It's unbelievable," said Trotter.
While Trotter knows she's not the only one dealing cancer, she does know she is very lucky to celebrate another holiday with her family.
The car wash for Trotter will be on Saturday, July 7 at 384 S. Main St. in Ashland City starting at 7 a.m.
Anita Trotter, 53, was diagnosed with Stage III Triple Negative breast cancer last November.
