MONROE - When Christina Foley's three children were small, she would take them to hide dollar bills on the lower shelves at the Dollar Store. She said the thought of children finding money to buy something they hoped for brought her family happiness.
Children have seemingly always gravitated toward the 37-year-old former daycare provider. She said even her husband, Kevin, learned early on she was a "kid magnet" anytime they would go out in public.
"I've just always enjoyed the energy of a child," she said.
The Monroe native is now in her third year as a teacher's aide at Parkside Elementary School while battling a cancer diagnosis. At 36, Foley said the devastating news of having stage three rectal cancer has flipped her world upside down.
Despite that, she said she can't help but find the energy and courage to reach out to others who might one day experience something similar. She created a Facebook page called Too Young, where she shares, reflects and encourages others to listen to their bodies, get checked and stop putting off those important appointments.
"There needs to be more education out there," she said.
In the fall of 2016, Foley experienced symptoms she passed off to other things. But six months later, she knew something wasn't right and scheduled a colonoscopy. Then she canceled it.
Symptoms progressed, she said, and eventually she found herself in a doctor's office, receiving devastating news.
"It was probably here for quite a while before I found out," she said.
On her way home from a scan, her emotions took over. Foley pulled off to the side of the road, downloaded an app on her phone and let her feelings out. She later showed those words to her oldest son, Conner, 16.
"Conner inspires me," she said. "Since his birth, he's inspired me. He told me I needed to share it."
It was then the social media page was born. "Too Young" are words that resonated after hearing it so often - that she was simply "too young" to have this cancer. Doctors told her the average age for her diagnosis is 67.
The page also encourages young mothers to stop putting themselves last and has been a therapeutic place that's kept Foley positive after the news. She has more than 500 followers, although many of her posts show thousands of views.
"Most people would sit back and go through it," Conner said. "But she's making sure others are going to be OK."
Foley has undergone 28 rounds of radiation treatments and chemotherapy. She traveled to Madison five days a week, and side effects were painful.
Nothing Foley has done is surprising for Conner and his siblings, Colin, 14, and Addison, 11. The self-described "helicopter mom" has spent their lives being there for them.
"It's a good way to show how strong she is and how she is getting through this," Conner said. "I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I knew she could do it. I think it's pretty amazing of her to do what she's doing."
Her intention for the page wasn't to raise money or gifts, but they've come anyway.
"I've always been surrounded by great people with big personalities," she said. "These people who don't even know me want to give and help me fight."
She's now back to work, taking things day by day, but is overwhelmed by the road ahead. She will have surgery Nov. 21 to remove lymph nodes and the portion of her rectum being affected by the cancer. After Christmas, she'll continue chemotherapy for up to five months.
"I've always been an active mom," she said. "Knowing basketball and baseball season will be here and I might not be able to be there is hard. That's what sets me back the most. I'm going to miss things."
Kevin said some people have given gas cards, which was helpful during her commute to Madison for 28 straight days. A meal train has been set up for after the surgery. Foley was chosen for one of this year's Fall Nationals fundraisers that raised $7,000, which will be used after her surgery and for her next round of chemotherapy while she won't be able to work, she said. They also sent the family on a weekend trip to Wisconsin Dells.
The school has also been generous, and Foley said teachers at the district helped with funds so her son could go on a band trip - something she would have typically taken on herself.
"It's hard to watch my kids see me struggling," she said.
Her goal is to eventually get back to the life she loves - being a mom and working with children.
"My work is right there," she said, pointing to Parkside school, not far from her home. "I can hear those kids playing, and I just want to be there."
Children have seemingly always gravitated toward the 37-year-old former daycare provider. She said even her husband, Kevin, learned early on she was a "kid magnet" anytime they would go out in public.
"I've just always enjoyed the energy of a child," she said.
The Monroe native is now in her third year as a teacher's aide at Parkside Elementary School while battling a cancer diagnosis. At 36, Foley said the devastating news of having stage three rectal cancer has flipped her world upside down.
Despite that, she said she can't help but find the energy and courage to reach out to others who might one day experience something similar. She created a Facebook page called Too Young, where she shares, reflects and encourages others to listen to their bodies, get checked and stop putting off those important appointments.
"There needs to be more education out there," she said.
In the fall of 2016, Foley experienced symptoms she passed off to other things. But six months later, she knew something wasn't right and scheduled a colonoscopy. Then she canceled it.
Symptoms progressed, she said, and eventually she found herself in a doctor's office, receiving devastating news.
"It was probably here for quite a while before I found out," she said.
On her way home from a scan, her emotions took over. Foley pulled off to the side of the road, downloaded an app on her phone and let her feelings out. She later showed those words to her oldest son, Conner, 16.
"Conner inspires me," she said. "Since his birth, he's inspired me. He told me I needed to share it."
It was then the social media page was born. "Too Young" are words that resonated after hearing it so often - that she was simply "too young" to have this cancer. Doctors told her the average age for her diagnosis is 67.
The page also encourages young mothers to stop putting themselves last and has been a therapeutic place that's kept Foley positive after the news. She has more than 500 followers, although many of her posts show thousands of views.
"Most people would sit back and go through it," Conner said. "But she's making sure others are going to be OK."
Foley has undergone 28 rounds of radiation treatments and chemotherapy. She traveled to Madison five days a week, and side effects were painful.
Nothing Foley has done is surprising for Conner and his siblings, Colin, 14, and Addison, 11. The self-described "helicopter mom" has spent their lives being there for them.
"It's a good way to show how strong she is and how she is getting through this," Conner said. "I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I knew she could do it. I think it's pretty amazing of her to do what she's doing."
Her intention for the page wasn't to raise money or gifts, but they've come anyway.
"I've always been surrounded by great people with big personalities," she said. "These people who don't even know me want to give and help me fight."
She's now back to work, taking things day by day, but is overwhelmed by the road ahead. She will have surgery Nov. 21 to remove lymph nodes and the portion of her rectum being affected by the cancer. After Christmas, she'll continue chemotherapy for up to five months.
"I've always been an active mom," she said. "Knowing basketball and baseball season will be here and I might not be able to be there is hard. That's what sets me back the most. I'm going to miss things."
Kevin said some people have given gas cards, which was helpful during her commute to Madison for 28 straight days. A meal train has been set up for after the surgery. Foley was chosen for one of this year's Fall Nationals fundraisers that raised $7,000, which will be used after her surgery and for her next round of chemotherapy while she won't be able to work, she said. They also sent the family on a weekend trip to Wisconsin Dells.
The school has also been generous, and Foley said teachers at the district helped with funds so her son could go on a band trip - something she would have typically taken on herself.
"It's hard to watch my kids see me struggling," she said.
Her goal is to eventually get back to the life she loves - being a mom and working with children.
"My work is right there," she said, pointing to Parkside school, not far from her home. "I can hear those kids playing, and I just want to be there."