DeKalb woman surprised by neighbors during chemo sendoff now cancer-free

Kedral “Keke” Thornton has been in a fight for her life.

The DeKalb County woman underwent a bilateral mastectomy, 16 chemotherapy treatments and 30 radiotherapy treatments during her battle with breast cancer over the past year.

But last week, Thornton and her family received the best news: She is now cancer-free. Her husband James Thornton shared the good news and their celebration with Channel 2.

“It has been a process but through the grace of God she made it! With COVID-19 numbers rising, she became scared. She got sick and had to get tested but thank God it came back negative so she was able to resume treatment,” James said.

Channel 2 Action News first reported on Thornton when her neighborhood put together a touching sendoff for her final cancer treatment in April.

As she headed to her treatment, people lined the sidewalks in their Lithonia neighborhood to cheer her on.

The Thornton said they wouldn’t have gotten through Keke’s treatments without the support from family, friends and neighbors.

“Thank you for your prayers, gifts, taking my baby to school, picking her up, letting her spend the night at your house, bathing me, taking me to doctors appointments, cooking for me and my family, bringing us food, making me laugh, cursing me out when I was getting too wimpy, texting me with scriptures, FaceTiming me and laughing in the middle of the night, spending the night at my house, washing my clothes, cleaning my house, hiring a chef, bringing me groceries, ordering me scarves and clothes, and the list goes on and on,” Keke posted on Facebook.

“There are too many people to name, but you know who you are, I know who you are, and most importantly God knows.”

Cox Media Group