Faith Over Fear: Jenna Schutt’s Journey Through Cancer
Fear can be powerful.
When you receive a life-changing diagnosis, hear the words “aggressive disease,” or face a treatment you never imagined needing, fear can quickly become the loudest voice in the room.
But what happens when we choose to focus on faith instead of fear?
That is one of the questions I explore with Jenna Schutt in this episode of The Dorsey Ross Show.
Jenna’s story is one of incredible perseverance. A former cardiac nurse and author, she was just 30 years old when her life changed dramatically. With two young children at home, Jenna found herself facing a rare and incurable bone marrow disease.
Her journey would include chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, and challenges she continues to face today.
But through it all, Jenna discovered something that changed the way she looked at her circumstances: the Joy Reflex.
Jenna’s Journey from Diagnosis to Treatment
Jenna’s diagnosis initially involved a dormant form of the disease. But it eventually became much more aggressive.
She underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy, and the treatment initially produced encouraging results. Jenna recalls that the disease went from affecting about 25% of her bone marrow to approximately 0.1% after eight rounds of chemotherapy.
That was an incredible improvement.
But the journey wasn't over.
Only a few months later, the disease returned. Jenna then tried an oral chemotherapy treatment, but unfortunately, that treatment wasn't successful either.
Eventually, she underwent a stem cell transplant.
For someone who was only 30 years old and raising two young children, this was an enormous amount to process.
When Fear Becomes Part of the Journey
One of the things that stood out to me during our conversation was Jenna's honesty about fear.
Fear isn't something we always choose. Sometimes it is our immediate reaction to circumstances that feel overwhelming.
As Jenna explained, hearing words like “aggressive disease” or “chemotherapy” can trigger that instinctive fight-or-flight response.
But while we may not always be able to control the circumstances around us, we can work on how we respond to them.
Jenna didn't pretend that everything was okay.
She didn't deny what was happening.
Instead, she learned how to acknowledge the reality of her situation without allowing fear to completely control her mindset.
That is an important distinction.
Having faith doesn't mean pretending that difficult circumstances don't exist. Sometimes faith means acknowledging exactly how difficult something is while still choosing to believe that fear doesn't get the final word.
What Is the Joy Reflex?
Through everything she experienced, Jenna developed what she calls the Joy Reflex.
The idea is centered around intentionally training yourself to turn toward faith, joy, and peace when fear would normally become your automatic response.
It's not about ignoring difficult emotions.
It's about learning to recognize them and then choosing where you allow your mind to go next.
That concept became especially meaningful for Jenna as she navigated her cancer journey and everything that came with it.
And I think there is something all of us can take away from that idea.
We may not be facing the same circumstances Jenna faced, but all of us experience moments when fear can take over.
A health diagnosis.
The loss of someone we love.
Financial struggles.
Family problems.
Uncertainty about the future.
Sometimes life doesn't give us the option of choosing what happens. But we can work on how we respond to what happens.
Four Ways to Cultivate Faith Over Fear
Jenna's story offers several practical reminders for anyone going through a difficult season.
1. Acknowledge Your Fear
You don't have to pretend you're not afraid.
Fear is a natural response to difficult circumstances. Acknowledging it can actually help you step back and recognize what you're feeling instead of allowing that emotion to completely take over.
2. Shift Your Focus
Once you've acknowledged the fear, ask yourself where you're directing your attention.
Are you constantly imagining the worst possible outcome?
Or can you focus on what you can do today?
Sometimes the best way forward is simply taking the next step instead of trying to figure out everything at once.
3. Practice Gratitude
Gratitude doesn't erase difficult circumstances.
But intentionally looking for things you're thankful for can help change your perspective.
Sometimes those things can be very simple—a conversation with someone you love, a beautiful day, an encouraging message, or simply having another day to keep moving forward.
4. Surround Yourself With Encouragement
The people around us can make a tremendous difference during difficult seasons.
Having people who encourage you, pray with you, listen to you, and remind you of hope can help you keep going when fear feels overwhelming.
You don't have to walk through difficult circumstances alone.
Life After the Stem Cell Transplant
Jenna's story didn't end with the stem cell transplant.
Two years later, she continues to deal with complications, including graft-versus-host disease, a condition that can occur after a stem cell transplant when transplanted cells attack the recipient's body.
She has experienced significant challenges with her eyes and uses specialized scleral contact lenses. She also continues to take oral chemotherapy.
In other words, the difficult circumstances didn't simply disappear.
And that's part of what makes Jenna's message so powerful.
Her story isn't about reaching a point where everything suddenly became easy.
It's about learning how to find joy and hold onto faith in the middle of the difficulty.
Finding Joy in the Middle of the Storm
One of the biggest lessons I took away from talking with Jenna is that joy doesn't necessarily mean that everything around you is going well.
Sometimes joy is a choice we make in the middle of circumstances we would never have chosen for ourselves.
Jenna's journey is a reminder that fear may be part of the story, but it doesn't have to be the entire story.
Faith can exist alongside uncertainty.
Hope can exist alongside
