For those who remember Vanessa Reif, now Vanessa Reif Warren, from her days back at Bridgeport High School, there are probably a few things you may recall. You may remember that 1999 BHS alumna just happened to be crowned the Homecoming queen on the former grass surface at Wayne Jamison Field.

 

You may also recall that her family agreed to play host to the first-ever Young Life meeting at their home in the city. It took place in their basement.

 

You may know she was married right her in Bridgeport at Simpson Creek Baptist Church. You may also know the 41-year-old’s profession today has her tied in with a few folks at that same church.

 

Those who really knew her, knows that she – along with her parents – helped form the roots of what today is a highly successful and state championship level girls’ soccer program at Bridgeport High School.

 

Mom Deb Reif and Vanessa started the program after moving to Bridgeport from just outside of Pittsburgh, in Wexford, Pennsylvania. The sport was already entrenched there for females at the youth level but was still lacking when she arrived at Bridgeport Middle School.

 

“I was the only girl that ended up on the team, so I played on one of the city teams,” said Vanessa.

 

In her first year at high school, she joined the soccer team that was technically “co-ed,” but featured Vanessa and one other female in a season she said provided some “great and not-so-great moments.” Because of that, she asked her mom about starting a girls’ program at BHS.

 

And that is what Deb Reif and Vanessa did. Her mother, a CPA running her own business, went at it with tenacity. They did not have a coach. Deb got a coaching certification and became the coach. The team needed a schedule and her father Doug stepped out and did that. The team needed a place to practice and their collective effort helped secure the area commonly referred to as the band practice field to get started.

 

“It was kind of a mess. There was a lot of battling and the feeling that girls’ soccer wasn’t wanted. One of the things was using the field, which we were told couldn’t stand anymore use,” said Vanessa.

 

The tenacity paid off. In the fall of 1996, as a sophomore, the first team in BHS history was on the field. It has not left.

 

If that was all you needed to know about Vanessa Reif Warren, it would be an interesting sports blog read with a jog down memory lane. But there is more of a reason to write about her. There is a reason where the same tenacity, the same fighting spirit she has that looks to have been instilled quite handily by her parents is serving her well as she has long since moved from Bridgeport and is living with her family in Tucson, Arizona.

 

On Feb. 27 of this year, Vanessa, the mother of three, was diagnosed with breast cancer. And while her path to recovery is not clear as of this writing, her determination and faith in God to beat it are firmly in place.

 

“I was diagnosed on my youngest child’s fifth birthday with breast cancer,” she said. “It was the result of a routine mammogram. I was just wanting to get it out of the way, and they called and told me I needed a second mammogram and a biopsy. The MRI found it and found there was also invasive cancer.”

 

Since that day, things have changed for Vanessa, her husband Chris (who is from California), and their three children ages 16, 14, and 5. Perhaps most notable is on May 5 she had a bilateral mastectomy. She also has had three lymph nodes removed and tested with only the first lymph node showing cancer.

 

“I guess that means it’s cancer free,” she said, “but, cancer is a weird land.”

 

It is. It changes so much around you.

 

What it has not changed, even though Vanessa admits to being emotional and nervous, is her steadfast faith in God and her trust in Jesus. It is not hyperbole for Vanessa. She, along with her husband, have translated that love into their careers; leaving the corporate world they were part of behind even though their faith was in place prior.

 

In fact, from 2007-2021 Vanessa and Chris served as full-time campus missionaries where the worked with students at the University of Arizona and traveled across the country for Campus Crusade for Christ, which is known as Cru. For the last year and a half, the couple have created and operated a marriage ministry, Family Life, which falls under the Cru umbrella.

 

Her husband works on a national level. Vanessa works the ministry more locally. All of that was taking place when the diagnosis came that led to her current cancer journey.

 

“What makes it odd, and it can happen to anyone, is that I felt fairly healthy. I’m 41, pay attention to my nutrition, so it caught me off guard a bit,” she said. “I still gather myself and trust in God, and that trust has been rewarded.”

 

The trust came full circle when she met with her breast surgeon to schedule the mastectomy. Like most parents, she had plans for her kids’ activities and told her doctor that she had to have the surgery in a specific two-week time frame sooner rather than later. The doctor said it wouldn’t happen. The individual scheduling the procedure further drove the point home; saying it would be at least eight weeks.

 

“They told me they couldn’t,” said Vanessa. “I told my doctor that I heard her, but I’m going to pray you’re wrong and it will fall in that two-week window. I told the person scheduling the same thing that I was going to pray to get it to work out.”

 

At the beginning of May, she got a call from the scheduler. The initial words were “this never happens,” but it did.

 

“They were able to coordinate with my breast surgeon and plastic surgeon and it took place May 5,” said Vanessa.

 

And just like that, her plans were in place. Not only did she have successful surgery, but she was able to see her daughter be promoted to the eighth grade.

 

While that was a victory, anyone dealing with cancer knows it is a roller coaster emotionally and physically. Recently, she has been battling a virus that resulted in Vanessa “never being so sick in my life.” While on the mend from a downward trip on the coaster, she got good news Wednesday. Results on one of multiple tests done to her show she does not need the traditional form of chemotherapy.

 

There will be treatment, however. With her body healing up from the recent virus, she asked to hold off on starting her treatment regimen until June 16. On that date, she will begin receiving Zolodex injections monthly as part of a five-to-10-year treatment. In August, she will meet with her oncologist to determine when to add the next layer of treatment, which will then eventually be followed by a third treatment.

 

“I’ve believed in Jesus for a long time, but going through sickness and uncertainty has drawn me closer to Him. This has made me aware that when I thought I had control over my life the reality was I didn’t,” said Vanessa. “I need to depend on him and listen to Him.”

 

Part of the message she has heard is to let people know what God is sharing in her heart. She is doing that through the creatin of a journal on Caring Bridge, which you can register and follow by clicking HERE.

 

“There are people going through darkness with cancer and so many things that I want them to share my experiences and let people know God is in control,” she said. “When I decided to go into ministry, I hoped God could use me to encourage one person believe he is true and real that it would be worth it. I want people to pray; for me and for others.

 

“I know that sounds like self-promoting, but I do believe God is real and there is hope in Jesus,” she continued. “Everyone, whether it is cancer or something else, goes through hard times but prayer can take you beyond that. I know it will take me beyond cancer.”

 

I believe that she will kick cancer too. And with prayer help from her hometown added to the mix, she will kick it just like a soccer ball for the win.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Vanessa Reif Warren and her husband at her surgery, while she's shown during her BHS soccer days in the second photo. In the third picture, she's shown coaching a YMCA soccer league girls team. In the fourth photo, she is shown post surgery with the entire family attending her daughter's eighth grade promotion. Below is a portrait shot of Vanessa. All photos courtesy of Vanessa Reif Warren. Click HERE to be taken to Vanessa and Christoper Warren's ministry Web site.