Keyla "Nunny" Reece, 41, of Hope Mills, N.C., reacts to news of her friend's death from breast cancer at Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Nov. 30, 2019. In 2015, Nunny felt a lump in her breast, got it checked out and was told it was a benign cyst. Two years later, Nunny felt an additional lump, this time under her armpit, while simultaneously experiencing skin blotches and extreme back pain. On June 7, 2017, doctors diagnosed her with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, and by that point the cancer spread to her ribs, lungs, spine, and pelvis. After an initial period of shock and anger, Nunny started advocating and raising awareness for MBC in women of color by becoming a Tigerlily Foundation advocate, sharing her story with various media outlets and posting TikTok videos, insightful posts and information on her social media platforms. In addition to her advocacy, Nunny is committed to fulfilling her goals on her “livelovelife” list, including renewing her vows with her husband of 20 years, Scott Reece.

Nunny enters at CT machine at the UNC Hospitals Hillsborough Campus. She must be driven nearly 2 hours from Hope Mills to receive treatment due to the limited treatment options near her home.

Nunny grasps the hands of her aunt, Tina Foster (left) and a group of her "prayer warriors" shortly after conveying the news that she has weeks, or possibly months to live. Without God, “the depression, the sadness, the pain...all of that would have took over by now. And I would not have been as strong as I am today,” she said.

Nunny lays back as she receives chemotherapy while accompanied by her husband, Scott, at the N.C. Cancer Hospital. Reece has gone through nine lines of treatment to help curb the spread of the cancer, which has spread all over her body, including her liver, lungs, bones and brain. "At this point it's pretty much everywhere," she said.

Nunny makes a face at her husband, Scott, at their wedding rehearsal the evening before their vow renewal. In 2000, the Reece’s married in a courthouse and promised to renew their vows in a more elaborate ceremony later on. 18 years and three kids later, Scott proposed to Nunny at her 40th birthday party, less than a year after her stage 4 metastatic breast cancer diagnosis.

Nunny picks out her wedding dress while accompanied by her bridesmaids. Reece felt relieved to find her “perfect dress” because of concerns of swelling as a result of her steroid treatment.

(Left) Tedra Harris places a necklace around Nunny Reece's neck while she speaks to her best friend, Jessica Clark (right) the night before her vow renewal. Reece spent the night with her best friends in a hotel where they ate food, laughed and prepared for her big day.

Nunny waits to be seen at the UNC Hospitals Hillsborough Campus in Hillsborough, N.C."Treatment haven't really been that good. I think I was stable once on one of my medications..The longest I've been stable for is six months."

Ryan Reece, 10, plays games while his older brother, Tylan Reece, 20, sleeps in a hotel at Myrtle Beach, S.C. Their mother, Nunny, wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving and Ryan’s birthday at the beach to create memories and spend quality time with her loved ones. "A lot of people don't get to know...how they're going to die and they don't get to say goodbye to their family. At least I know to put in that time with my family, so that way they can remember not taking anything for granted," said Nunny.

Nunny gets dressed shortly before renewing her vows. " I was able to have... the wedding of my dream. It was better than what I thought. I mean my dress, the decoration, everything was purple like I love."

Nunny and Scott celebrate after renewing their vows, fufilling Nunny's dream of having a big wedding. "I just wanted to remind him...that I take my vows seriously too...I think he wanted to show me that he's not just my caregiver, " said Nunny.

Nunny hugs her son Ryan after renewing her vows. "That little boy, he just makes it known that he is all about his mom. And he loves his mom. He needs me here. And he wants me here."

Nunny clutches her husband, Scott, as he lifts her up in their home. Nunny entered in-home hospice care after running out of treatment options and relies on her husband to help her dress, bathe and get up.

Nunny falls asleep while in hospice. Nunny struggles with staying awake, speaking and moving about as her cancer has progressed significantly.

Photographs of Nunny and Scott sit on a table at Nunny’s bridal shower. Nunny welcomed close friends and family to an afternoon of lunch, games and laughter. Almost a year later, Nunny passed away in her home surrounded by her sister, Tauneka Roundtree Dolloson and her best friend, Jessica Clark on Feb. 1, 2021, 9 days before her 43rd birthday.