Welcome to the Podcast!

Hey friend! Welcome to the very first episode of Thrive Through the Fire! You know, it’s kind of an unwritten rule that the first episode of a podcast has to start with an introduction—so here we are. Obligatory intro episode. But don’t worry, I promise it won’t be boring!

I’m Alyssa Kilgore—a wife, mom of four, nurse, accidental tech guru, coffee reheater extraordinaire, and stage 3 colorectal cancer survivor. This podcast is for anyone who has ever had life throw them an unexpected curveball—whether it’s a diagnosis, a loss, or just a season that makes you ask, “Seriously, God?”

In this episode, we’re diving into:

My personal journey through a shocking cancer diagnosis.

The fear, uncertainty, and emotions that came with it.

Where I saw God’s presence in my hardest moments.

Scripture, encouragement, and practical advice from a nurse—because let’s be real, there’s a LOT no one tells you.

The awkward, embarrassing, and uncomfortable things we need to talk about.

If you’re going through something hard right now, this episode is for you.

One day, I was just a regular mom—running errands, answering endless “Mom, can I have a snack?” questions, and microwaving my coffee for the third time. The next? I was sitting in a doctor’s office hearing the words, “You have cancer.”

I was 38 years old. I was in the best shape of my life. I felt fine. How could this be happening?

Suddenly, I was drowning in fear of the unknown:

What’s going to happen to me?

How bad is this going to get?

Will I ever feel normal again?

And let me tell you—fear thrives in the unknown.

But here’s what I’ve learned: fear loses its power when you know what to expect. That’s why I created this podcast—to help YOU be prepared, not afraid. Because God didn’t bring me through this just to keep it to myself.

Let’s talk about how this started—because colorectal cancer? Not exactly a glamorous diagnosis.

I was bleeding in my stool (yep, we’re going there). I mentioned it to my doctor multiple times, and each time I was told, “It’s probably just hemorrhoids.” But deep down, I knew something was wrong.

That gut feeling? That’s God. Listen to it.

After a very awkward colorectal exam and a colonoscopy, my doctor still reassured me that everything looked fine. Until I got the results.

I opened my patient portal, expecting to see “benign” or “nothing to worry about.” Instead, my eyes landed on words like "Adenocarcinoma" and "Lymphovascular invasion."

I went from not worried at all to Googling my survival rate and assuming I had three months to live.

Hospital tech teams—PLEASE stop putting biopsy results in patient portals before a doctor can explain them. Thank you.

I wish I could tell you that I immediately turned to faith. That I heard my diagnosis and thought, "Well, God’s got this!"

But no. I was scared. I was angry. I was begging God to take this away. And for a while? It felt like He was silent.

But looking back, I can see His fingerprints all over my story.

God was with me through every surgery, every chemo treatment.

He showed up in devotionals, in worship songs, in people He placed in my life.

He reminded me—over and over