‘Unbridled Courage’

Shaun Ulrich spends a moment with her horse Spinner, at Jonesmore Hill Arabians. [Photo by Tommy Cuevas]

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Posted October 15, 2025 | By Susan Smiley-Height, [email protected]

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, breast cancer death rates in the United States have dropped by 44% since 1989.

“That’s not a coincidence. For 40 years, Breast Cancer Awareness Month has helped raise awareness of breast cancer across the nation. It has encouraged millions to take action, resulting in increased early detection and advancements in treatment that have saved more than half a million lives,” notes the foundation website.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, except for skin cancers. It accounts for about 30% (or one in three) of all new female cancers each year, according to the American Cancer Society.

Shaun Ulrich of Ocala, who will turn 48 on Oct. 21, is currently working through treatment for metastatic breast cancer, as did her mother, who succumbed to the disease in 2019. An aunt on her mother’s side had breast cancer almost 30 years ago. She had lumpectomy, radiation and hormone therapy for five years and has been cancer free since then. She’s now 85.

As part of her journey Ulrich created the Unbridled Courage Facebook page.

“Unbridled Courage was born when I received my diagnosis, when it felt like everything was ending and I wondered how to move forward with a stage IV cancer diagnosis hanging over me. But as I began to take one step, one day at a time, I realized life isn’t over. It’s just different,” she said.

“This space is for anyone walking a path touched by cancer — patient, caregiver, family or friend — where they can find support or provide support to others. It’s not just about treatments and scans, but about living: the small joys, the everyday wins and the messy, beautiful moments that make life full,” she noted.

“My love of horses is woven into this journey. They’ve always taught me resilience, determination, trust and the power of presence. That spirit of strength is at the heart of Unbridled Courage. Through stories, support, resources and real conversations, this space is here to remind us that there’s still light, love and laughter ahead. It’s about finding hope beyond the diagnosis and showing that courage, once unbridled, has no limits,” she shared.

To learn more, the “Gazette” did an email Q&A with Ulrich.

Tell us about your family, hobbies, etc.

I was born in Virginia and lived in Tennessee and Sarasota before coming to Ocala in 2005 when my parents, Dave and Sue Layman, moved here.

I graduated from Jacksonville University with a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems and am currently a senior software engineer with Included Health, which is based in San Francisco. Included Health combines virtual and in-person care with expert insurance navigation, comprehensive support and AI-powered technology.

I love my job and the company I work for. I could never be a doctor because I can’t deal with the sight of blood, but the work that I do allows me to work on the periphery of the medical field, supporting our providers and clinicians who aid our members through their own medical journeys. It is a rare thing for me to not be inspired to start my workday.

I am married to Tommy Cuevas. We’ve been married for 2 ½ years, together for about 10. I’ve got two kids from a previous marriage. McKenna Ulrich, 14, is a freshman at West Port. She is in the MCCA magnet program, focused on music, playing clarinet in marching and concert band, and in choir. Logan Ulrich, 17, is a junior at West Port. He is involved in FFA, joining the horse evaluation team this year, and rides and shows Arabian horses. We’ve got three rescue dogs, two bunnies, a hamster and a horse.

My hobbies include riding horses, reading and cooking — something that has been renewed as I focus on nutrition with my diagnosis, and I occasionally pull out my sketch books to do a little drawing. There was a time in high school when I thought I would go to art school. I wish I had the musical talent that my daughter has. She got that from my mom.

My Dad, Dave Layman, and my stepmom, Jo Layman, live here in town.

My mom, Sue, passed away in 2019 from metastatic breast cancer. My parents were married for almost 50 years when she passed.

Tell us about your health journey.

In January of this year, I decided to get back on top of my routine care after skipping a year of appointments. Through my company’s virtual primary care service, I got referrals for labs, a well-woman visit and a screening mammogram. The first two were normal. My March mammogram, however, showed microcalcifications in my right breast. Radiology Associates of Ocala moved quickly. Additional imaging was followed by a biopsy, which confirmed invasive ductal carcinoma, ER/PR-positive and HER2-negative.

Life tries to balance things out. Within a week of my diagnosis, I received a promotion at work. I’m incredibly proud to work for a Silicon Valley-based tech company, especially providing the services we provide. So, when I received my promotion, it felt like life was reminding me that even in the middle of hard news, there are still moments to celebrate and be grateful for.

On April 22, I had a bilateral mastectomy with Dr. Georgios Rossidis (HCA Florida Ocala Surgical Group) and Dr. James Rogers (Ocala Plastic Surgery) began reconstruction the same day. Pathology showed clear margins and one positive sentinel lymph node. At that point I was considered Stage IIA.

When I met with my medical oncologist, Dr. Vipul Patel, at Florida Cancer Specialists, a PET/CT was ordered to guide the next steps. I expected to be discussing adjuvant therapy; instead, the scan revealed bone involvement (spine, ribs, sternum, femurs), shifting the diagnosis to metastatic breast cancer, Stage IV.

Because my cancer is fueled by estrogen, my treatment plan focuses on “turning off the faucet” of hormones: monthly injections to induce menopause, a daily hormone blocker medication to block estrogen production and a daily medication to slow cancer cell division. To protect my bones, I receive regular infusions, and I completed 10 sessions of targeted radiation to my femurs for pain prevention and structural support. The goal is to treat it as a chronic condition, shutting down the cancer cells with the targeted hormone therapy, and monitoring and pivoting treatment if progression is detected.

Since then, I’ve had monthly labs and will have follow-up scans every three to four months to track response. Day-to-day, I’m focusing on a Mediterranean-style diet; regular movement by spending a lot of time in the Peloton app focusing on spin classes, strength training, yoga and meditation; and living well while treatment keeps the disease in check.

Who has helped you most along the way?

An unexpected part of my cancer journey is how deeply my company and our care team became part of the story.

It started with the virtual primary care program my employer provides. That’s how I got the referral for the mammogram that ultimately detected my cancer. When it came time to choose a surgeon, I used our company’s provider referral service, which matched me with Dr. Rossidis, who performed my mastectomy with great skill and compassion. The system that our care team uses to provide support to our members who use the referrals service was actually something I had been a tech lead on to revamp, leading up a small team of engineers. We had wrapped the work up on it only a few months before.

When there were delays in my biopsy referrals, I leaned on our Care Team leadership, who stepped in to ensure Radiology Associates of Ocala received everything they needed in time.

I also used our company’s Expert Medical Opinion service, submitting my diagnosis and records to leading specialists. I received second opinions from both a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist, which reassured me that my treatment plan was sound.

In addition, our Cancer Specialty Care program gave me access to oncology nurses who answered questions, pharmacists who guided me through medications and nutritionists who specialize in supporting cancer patients. And when billing issues arose, the claims advocacy service was there to help resolve them.

These resources didn’t just support me logistically; they gave me peace of mind. Having a care team behind me made a daunting diagnosis feel less overwhelming and I’m grateful my professional world offered such personal support when I needed it most.

And my family. I don’t know what I would do without them.

Tommy has been incredible throughout this journey, not just in the big moments, but in the small, everyday ways he shows up. His support, patience and love remind me daily that courage doesn’t have to be carried alone

My dad has already walked this journey twice before with my mom. He knows how hard it is to face cancer and how helpless it can feel when you can’t take it away. Early in my diagnosis, he told me one thing he could do was pray for me every day. True to his word, every evening I get a text message from him with a prayer. It’s become a daily reminder of his love, faith and steady presence in my life.

Jo has such a caring way of being present for me. Whether she’s sharing recipes or checking in, her thoughtfulness reminds me that I’m loved and supported. It means more than words can capture.

Vashti Nugent, my oncology nurse navigator through HCA health. I experienced her incredible care when she was at Ocala Plastic Surgery, and I had a procedure done. At my first appointment with Dr. Rossidis, I didn’t know she would be my navigator, so when she walked through the door, I cried happy tears. She is such a light in this world and an inspiration for anyone going through a cancer diagnosis.

My friends, who have offered a listening ear when I needed to talk and encouraged me when I needed a reminder of my own strength.

What advice do you have for others?

Please don’t wait, don’t put it off. Get your mammograms and your checkups. I had no symptoms and no lump, but cancer was still there. If I’d gone by how I felt, I might have skipped that appointment and that decision could have cost me precious time.

Go live an amazing life. Don’t sit back and wait for “someday.” Do the things that bring you joy now, love your people fully and live the life that’s in front of you. I wish it didn’t take cancer to help me reprioritize my life but I’m grateful every day for the clarity it’s given me about what really matters.

 

 

What are the most important things in life?

Family is at the heart of what matters to me, but it’s more than that. It’s about courage, community, and finding joy in the everyday. For me, that looks like cheering for my daughter in the marching band, celebrating my son as he shows his horse or sharing a meal with the people I love.

I’ve been blessed with an incredible circle of support, my husband, my dad and my stepmom among them, who remind me daily that love and strength take many forms. Alongside them, my faith is also an important part of my life. It’s not something I talk about often, but it quietly grounds me and helps me find balance, peace and hope in each new day.

Together, these things remind me that purpose isn’t only found in the big milestones, but in the ordinary, meaningful moments we live side by side.

“As with her mom, Shaun was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her mom was cancer free for six years and the cancer returned in her brain and her lungs.  We lost her mom in 2019, only five months after her cancer returned,” Dave Layman shared.

“While Shaun’s initial diagnosis was scary and life changing, she has approached this journey just like her mom, with strength and courage and a stubborn attitude that wills her to defeat the cancer,” Layman continued.

“Much like her mother, who would encourage those who were on this same cancer journey, Shaun’s Unbridled Courage Facebook posts are a mirror of her mom’s encouragement to help others,” he added. “Shaun is a testament and example of her mother’s courage and defiance to not let this diagnosis defeat her.  She is her mother’s daughter, and I could not be any prouder of the woman she has become. Just like her mom, it’s not just about her but all women who fight this battle with cancer. Quitting is not an option.”

Find the Unbridled Courage page at fb.com/profile.php?id=61579286250670

 

 

RESOURCES AND SUPPORT, CALENDAR BENEFIT

According to the Florida Department of Health in Marion County, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in Florida. The agency urges routine screenings and self-exams.

DOH-Marion provides access to free or low-cost breast cancer screenings to women who are uninsured or underinsured, have a low income and meet eligibility requirements. To see if you qualify, call (352) 629-0137 or visit floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/cancer/breast-cancer/bccedp.html

The local nonprofit Michelle-O-Gram was established following the death of Michelle Blauser Standridge, 36, to breast cancer. The organization can help facilitate mammograms. Learn more at michelleogram.com

Another local nonprofit Hot Girls Against Breast Cancer, Inc., started by Lindsey Ardmore, also offers support and information. The organization has produced the 2026 Firemen’s Calendar “in support of our mission to un-gate screenings and mammograms for women under 40 years old.”

“This calendar features the work of local photographer, Becca McKinney Photo, and local firemen from agencies in North Central Florida. As a breast cancer survivor and young mother, I believe that every woman has the right to screening access no matter her age, race or demographic. Please support our mission and enjoy the view all year long!”

To learn more and order a calendar, at $20 each, go to bronzeocala.com/hot-girls-calendar

For more information, visit cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer.html