Thriv(h)er

Thriv(h)er follows young women who have experienced cancer and are now rebuilding their lives. They navigate the mental and physical health struggles of body image, intimacy, fertility, patient advocacy, recurrence, and the challenges of parenthood alongside their partners. Woven throughout the film are elements of dance, art, music, and wellness; it highlights the power of togetherness, self-expression, healing, and a commitment to improving others' journeys.

Currently in production.

THE URGENCY

Each year in the United States, approximately 80,000 young adults between 20 and 39 are diagnosed with cancer according to the American Cancer Society. Treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy can have lasting effects particularly on fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum health.

While cancer treatment demands all your focus just to survive, the emotional and mental health challenges often emerge when treatment is over, as survivors begin to process and grieve what they have experienced.

Too often, young survivors are left to navigate these emotional, physical, and psychological challenges with little guidance. Fortunately, a growing number of healthcare providers recognize that survivorship extends beyond remission. Through their expertise, they are helping premenopausal women better understand their options, supporting their mental health, and offering the knowledge, care, and hope needed to move beyond survival and toward healing.

Image of Lorelei Colber hugging her newborn baby laying in bed. On the blanket wrapping her baby it reads SURVIVRE.

A Powerful Educational and Advocacy Film

Our

Mission

Thriv(h)er is on a mission to give hope to women navigating parenthood after overcoming cancer. The film celebrates the journeys of diverse individuals, fostering connection among those with similar experiences. Through its stories, Thriv(h)er advocates for better healthcare and support systems for cancer thrivers, families, and women, empowering viewers to push for meaningful change in their communities.

Building on strong community partnerships, Thriv(h)er will achieve its mission through high-impact initiatives, including live and virtual events, a national broadcast reaching millions, and educational toolkits for advocacy work. By creating long-lasting partnerships with nonprofits, hospitals, researchers, and changemakers, the project aims to support women's health and family planning.

Thriv(h)er strives to leave an enduring legacy of awareness, support, and inspiration.

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THE STORIES

A woman with braided hair and beads, wrapped in a pink blanket, smiling at a newborn baby she is holding. Two children are beside her, smiling and looking at the baby.

Amber Rice Dawn

Amber Rice Dawn is a loving mother, breast cancer survivor, Navy veteran, and professional fighter whose resilience and determination inspire all who meet her. From her disciplined life as an Operations Specialist in the Navy to her remarkable achievements in natural bodybuilding and jiu-jitsu, Amber’s journey is one of adaptability and strength.

Diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at 30, she faced the disease head-on, undergoing a mastectomy that left a scar symbolizing her courage. After treatment, Amber experienced the joy of a surprise pregnancy, navigating the complexities of motherhood as a cancer survivor while embracing the challenges of breastfeeding with one breast. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance and hope.

“Cancer tried to take me out, but I’m still standing—grateful to have two beautiful babies post-cancer and able to breastfeed with one breast.”

— Amber Dawn Rice

Lorelei Colbert hugs her newborn baby skin to skin. Her mastectomy scars visible.

Lorelei Colbert

Lorelei Colbert is a mother, breast cancer advocate, and inspiring speaker who was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at 28. During treatment, she launched the Chemo to Kindness℠ Challenge, inspiring global acts of kindness. The film follows her journey as a new mother, exploring emotional and physical challenges of her postpartum experience, including meetings with her OBGYN, Lactation Consultant, and Oncologist.

Through her advocacy and personal story, Lorelei sheds light on how breast cancer survivors are transforming maternal care while embracing the joys and challenges of motherhood.

“I had always wanted to breastfeed and had to find peace with not being able to. Our son only knows me by scars, but he is well fed and loved.”

— Lorelei Colbert

Anna Wassman, an Asian American women has the biggest smile.

Anna Wassman-Cox

Anna Wassman-Cox is a professional ballerina, two-time breast cancer survivor, and founder of the Onco-Ballet Foundation, which offers healing ballet classes for individuals affected by cancer. Diagnosed with stage 2A breast cancer at 25 and facing a second diagnosis at 28, Anna turned to ballet as a source of physical and emotional recovery.

Now married and post-treatment, she is exploring options whether or not to start a family while navigating health considerations, personal goals, and meeting with fertility experts. The film showcases her resilience and the transformative healing power of ballet, while revealing the hope and inspiration her story brings to others facing similar fertility challenges young cancer thrivers face in their path to parenthood.

“At 25, I was determined that cancer wouldn’t rob me from the choice of motherhood.”

— Anna Wassman-Cox

Sharing Experiences Through Connection

From the stories of Amber, Anna, and Lorelei we meet more thrivers and parents who are on similar yet different journeys in their lives. We learn from their experiences and how it impacts each other.

Two women and two babies sitting on a rug in a living room, engaging with each other and toys, with a bookshelf behind them.
Two women hugging each other with smiles, one woman wearing a pink hoodie and the other having a hair roller, in a bright indoor setting.
A woman with long brown hair wearing a black and white jacket and light green top, talking to a person in a black t-shirt, in an indoor setting.
Two women sitting at a dining table with tea cups, teapot, and pastries, having a conversation in a sunlit room with large windows showing an outdoor garden.
A young woman with dark hair smiling and looking at a person in front of her, indoors with a view of tall buildings through large windows.
Reflection of two women, one pregnant, taking a mirror selfie in a bedroom with white walls, bed, and a potted plant.
A young woman with red hair wearing a gray tank top and white pants standing in front of a ballet barre, engaging in conversation with an instructor wearing a black shirt with the Onco-Teacher Foundation logo.

Working with Leading Medical Experts in The Field

Stanford Health Care logo with shield emblem and text
Logo with a green circular symbol and the word 'RUSH' in black letters.
Fertility Centers of Illinois logo with purple text and two outlined baby footprints.
FirstHealth logo in green and gray text.
The seal of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs featuring an eagle clutching an American flag, with stars above and a circle of text around.
UCLA Health logo with blue and black text
  • A smiling African-American woman with gray hair, wearing glasses and a white medical coat, sitting in an office. Behind her, there is a framed picture on the wall and a set of drawers to the right.

    Dr. Alison Spence

    Oncologist

    Stanford Health, Veteran Affairs Hospital of Palo Alto

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a red top sitting at an office desk, having a conversation with another person whose back is facing the camera. Behind her, there is a window with a view of buildings, a framed picture, and a vase of flowers on the desk.

    Dr. Jennifer Hirshfeld-Cytron

    Obstetrician and Gynecologist (OB-GYN) Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

    Fertility Centers of Illinois

  • A woman with dark hair and a white coat smiling while talking to a person whose back is visible in the foreground.

    Dr. Ruta Rao

    Oncologist

    RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center

  • A woman with red hair, wearing glasses on her head, gold hoop earrings, a black shirt, and a gold chain necklace, smiling and talking indoors near a window.

    Dr. Andrea Madrigrano

    Breast Surgeon

    RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center

  • An older woman with curly hair and red earrings holds a baby boy on her lap indoors. The woman has a patterned black and white top and is smiling at the baby. The baby looks back at her with curiosity and has a shaved head, wearing a light-colored shirt and dark pants. In the background, there is a large leafy plant, a guitar, a small white planter on a table, and chair.

    Avis Pilewski, RN

    Lactation Consultant

    FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital

  • A smiling female healthcare professional in a white lab coat and green scrubs standing in a medical setting near medical equipment and a wooden wall.

    Dr. Alexandria C. Kragie

    Obstetrician and Gynecologist (OB-GYN)

    Stanford Health

  • A woman with brown hair, wearing a dark blazer and a watch, is sitting at a table indoors, smiling and talking. There is a large window behind her with a view of trees outside, and on the table are a mug and some decorative items.

    Dr. Linsey Todd Graham

    Oncologist

    Womack Army Medical Center

  • A woman with long brown hair smiling and talking to another person whose back is visible.

    Dr. Ashlesha Patel

    Obstetrician and Gynecologist (OB-GYN)

    John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County

  • A smiling woman with glasses, wearing a white lab coat, sitting in front of a computer screen displaying a medical scan or image, in a medical or research setting.

    Dr. Stephanie Tzu-Ying Chang

    Diagnostic Radiology

    Stanford Health and Veteran Affairs Hospital of Palo Alto

  • A woman with curly dark hair and light skin is sitting at a desk, facing another woman with long brown hair. The scene takes place in a medical office with a computer monitor and a beige wall in the background.

    Dr. Lissette E. Machin

    Obstetrician and Gynecologist (OB-GYN)

    Southern Pines Women's Health Center, A FirstHealth Clinic

CREATIVE TEAM

Melody C. Miller

Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor

Melody C. Miller is a mother, and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker known for her impactful storytelling that amplifies the voices of women and children’s rights. Her work centers around survivors overcoming significant barriers. With critically acclaimed feature films like California's Forgotten Children and ruth weiss, the beat goddess,her work inspired audiences to implement solutions to end social injustices. Recognized by International Festivals, PBS Broadcast, the United Nations Association, and the U.S. Senate, Melody's unique sensitivity and commitment to advocacy positions Thriv(h)er on the track record of films that inform, uplift, and tangible change.

To deepen her medical knowledge for this project, she is currently pursuing a certificate in Media and Medicine: How to Tell Stories that Make a Difference at Harvard Medical School.

A woman holds her newborn child next to her son who is a few years older.

Moana Sherrill

Producer

Moana Sherrill is a mother, young breast cancer survivor, and award-winning producer who has worked on major narrative motion pictures for Diablo Entertainment like Carnage Park and Sleight that received accolades at the Sundance Film Festival. Her documentary experience includes, ReThink Afghanistan, Country: Portraits of an American Sound, and Training Rules. She is a passionate advocate for young women’s cancer awareness.

A young woman with brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a blue denim shirt, standing in front of a yellow background. She is smiling slightly and looking at the camera.

Jennifer Solorio

Co-Producer

Jennifer Solorio is a Mexican American storyteller and producer, passionate about creating impactful narratives. With extensive experience in documentary filmmaking, multimedia production, and broadcast journalism, she has contributed to high-profile projects at PBS, A&E, and VICE. Driven by a deep interest in democracy and social change, Jennifer is dedicated to amplifying diverse voices and crafting stories that inspire and engage global audiences.

A beautiful African American woman with curly hair and glasses looks off into the distance. An African painting is in her background.

Yohana Gebre

Associate Producer

Yohana Gebre is a cool aunty, writer, and producer who enjoys creative work with an edge. Her work centers on social topics she hopes to normalize discussion around and bring a sense of healing to the community. Her expertise is in helping non-profits grow. Over the past decade, she has assisted in documentaries about the environment, animal rights, and social justice.

Stephen Spies and Kate Bacich

Music Composers

Emmy Award-winning musicians, husband-and-wife composing duo. Their work spans Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Apple TV, Prime Video, and Apple. Their Credits include the Netflix series Lost Ollie, the Netflix animated series Trash Truck, and the HBO Max Original documentary series Gaming Wall Street. With more than 80 IMDb credits combined, they compose, collaborate, and continue building a creative life together.

The Thriv(h)er creative team is committed to working women and mothers behind the camera. The journey of making this film has left life changing impact for everyone involved, sparking deeper reflections on their own health and family.

A group of women smiling taking a selfie in an indoor setting with a framed landscape photograph on the wall behind them.
Four women standing together in a scientific or technical environment with machinery and equipment behind them.
Two smiling women, one with curly hair and the other with straight hair, and a baby wrapped in a blanket.
Two women operating a professional video camera in an indoor setting, with one woman in a yellow shirt and the other in a white shirt with curly hair, both focused on filming or reviewing footage.
Two people being interviewed outdoors by a camera crew, with tall city buildings and a river in the background.
Group of six people smiling, standing in front of a glass window with the number 1520 above it, inside an airport terminal.
Five women standing in front of a backdrop with pink flowers and 'Onco-Ballet foundation' written on it. They are dressed in formal attire and smiling at the camera.
Two women are smiling and posing in front of computer monitors showing photo editing software. One woman has long blond hair, and the other has curly blond hair and glasses. They are inside a room with a window and some shelves behind them.
Four women smiling for a group photo in an indoor setting, with shoes displayed on wall shelves behind them.
Three women sitting on a white outdoor couch, smiling and posing for a photo. One woman is holding a camera. Two women have dark curly hair, one with long braids, and the third woman has light brown, curly hair. They are dressed casually, with the wo
Close-up of two women smiling, with one having curly blonde hair and the other with straight dark hair, outdoors with trees and a metal structure in the background.
Group of people practicing social distancing and hugging indoors with a camera crew filming them.
Group of six diverse women and one man standing together, smiling in an indoor setting with artwork and a mosaic wall in the background.
Six people standing together in an indoor setting, two holding cameras with stabilization equipment, and one with crutches. They are smiling and dressed in casual and business attire.
Three women in protective medical gowns, hair caps, shoe covers, and gloves standing in a hospital or laboratory corridor.
A person wearing a blue hair cover and a white lab coat is filming a woman working with laboratory equipment in a scientific or medical setting.
A behind-the-scenes look at a video shoot in an office, with a woman in a red top being filmed, a cameraman recording her, a crew member managing equipment, and a monitor displaying the woman's image.
Three women sitting in a glass-walled room with city skyline view, two of them smiling and laughing, while a woman with a camera films them and another woman stands nearby.

Sanaz Mahdi

Assistant to Production

Kateryna Sazonova

Camera Operator

Angelia Sciulli

Camera Operator

Ashton Rea

Camera Operator

YuXin Lu

Production Sound

Kai Plier

Ballet Pianist

Our Advisory Committee

Thankful to all the amazing individuals and organizations who have provided guidance, feedback, advice, medical facts review, connections, and for believing in our documentary.

  • The Bright Spot Network provides young cancer survivors who are parents of small children with a safe space for individual and familial healing.

  • Ensure every young woman newly diagnosed with cancer has the option to preserve fertility through direct financial support, educational programs, and advocacy efforts.

  • Supports and educates anyone who has been diagnosed with breast or gynecologic cancer and provides critical information to the general public about signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.

  • Assistant Professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, a practicing physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, author of The Healing Power of Storytelling: Using Personal Narrative to Navigate Illness, Trauma, and Loss

    Patient-centered, research-based, and committed to the therapeutic power of storytelling. We strive to create a space where story sharing is valued and honored within the healthcare system.

  • Jonathan Adler is a clinical psychologist and a professor at Olin College of Engineering in Needham, Massachusetts. He is the Editor in Chief of Personality and Social Psychology Review and served as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Personality and Collabra: Psychology. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical and Personality Psychology from Northwestern University.

    Jon’s research focuses on the relationships between identity development in adulthood and mental health.

  • TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance drives the collaborative efforts of patients, survivors, advocates, advocacy organizations, health care professionals, researchers, and pharmaceutical companies to work towards the common goal of eradicating Black Breast Cancer.

  • A breast medical oncologist that treats premenopausal women with breast cancer, and her research is focused on young women with breast cancer, hormone receptor positive breast cancers, and prognostic and predictive biomarkers.

  • Neal Baer, MD, MA, MEd, is an award-winning showrunner, television writer/producer, physician, author and a public health advocate and expert

  • Professor of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School

  • Provides young adult cancer survivors financial assistance to pursue parenthood by preserving fertility before cancer treatment or building a family after through adoption, fertility treatments or surrogacy in survivorship.

  • Chair of the AYA Advisory Board at UCLA Hospital, as well as co-authoring an AYA guidebook that’s due to be released through UCLA this spring. Co-lead the LA chapter of Young Survival Coalition, a charity that supports women diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 40.

  • Rachel Frankenthal is a board-certified and licensed Physician Assistant with a Masters in Public Health. She specializes in gynecologic oncology, treating women with gynecologic cancers as well as women at high risk for uterine or ovarian cancer due to genetic mutations or a strong family history.