A mum-of-three says her world "collapsed" after losing her daughter, getting a divorce and being diagnosed with breast cancer twice, in the space of three years. "

Heidi Price, 53, lived an "ordinary" life with her ex-husband and three children, up until 2021. "

After eldest daughter Stacy, 20, took her own life, her family was left "in tatters." "

In January 2023, her divorce was finalised, and she spent the next six months working out at the gym, going on dates and regaining her confidence.

But in July 2023, she was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma - a non-invasive form of breast cancer.

Since then, she has gone into remission, been re-diagnosed and moved back in with her retired mum, Meredith, 76, where she now lives.

Heidi, a preschool aide, from Columbus, Ohio, said: "I'm slowly getting better, every day."

"My mum has become my carer at 76 - but I still receive so much help from two of my kids. "

"I want to go back to work at some point - I can't wait for the day I feel ‘normal' again. "

"I know I can get through this, just like I have with everything else." "

Stacy, who was studying linguistics and Japanese at university at the time of her death, has been described as "lots of fun."

She was diagnosed with bipolar in 2020 - and became "very depressed" when the covid lockdown hit. "

Heidi says she wouldn't want to leave the couch for days on end - she was on several different medications, and saw a therapist weekly.

"Stacy was wonderful," she said. "

"But, when her college shut down during covid, she got a bit depressed. "

"About a year or two before she passed, she was diagnosed with bipolar by doctors and her therapist. "

"She'd have episodes of being super happy and ‘high' on life. "

"Then, she'd just fall low - to the point where she wouldn't want to get off the couch. "

"She was transgender, which was a big part of her struggle too - I think it's important to highlight that."

"As her parents, we tried everything to help her feel better."

"But, I just don't think she had the strength in her - there wasn't anything we could do."

"She didn't want to struggle, anymore." "

Stacy died on March 2, 2021, leaving Heidi, her ex-husband and their two other children, Brandon, 22 and Anne, 19, devastated.

Heidi's marriage suffered "hugely" while both parents struggled to cope with Stacy's loss. "

In mid-2022, Heidi's ex-husband asked her for a divorce, after 25 years of marriage.

"It started off as very difficult, dealing with the grief of it all," she added. "

"I was having a really hard time - I called a suicide helpline. "

"The lady on the other end asked if I'd tried dating - so I did, and I started going to the gym daily. "

"I lost 30lb, and I went on several dates between January and July 2023. "

"It really helped my confidence - even though I wasn't looking for anything serious."

Heidi says her world came "crashing down again" when a chest scan showed she had nodules on her left breast. "

She was visiting the ER after experiencing a period after menopause - when the nurse asked if she'd recently had a mammogram.

"I told her I hadn't - and she insisted I had one there-and-then," Heidi said. "

"The nurse ended up taking biopsies of the tissue in my left breast. "

"A few weeks later, I was called back in."

Heidi's doctor diagnosed her with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) - otherwise known as stage "zero" breast cancer - on July 5, 2023. "

She was given a lumpectomy on the same day - and underwent 30 rounds of radiotherapy.

Between October 2023 and April 2024, Heidi was in remission - and started a new job at a local preschool.

"The kids healed my heart from my grief and illness," she added. "

"It was lovely, having them cuddle in my lap and giving me hugs."

But in May 2024, a check-up scan revealed her cancer had come back, in the same breast.

She opted to have a double mastectomy, which was carried out on August 14.

Now, she's living at her mum's lake house in Columbus - and doctors expect her to make a full recovery.

She said: "I'm doing great, despite everything."

"I have wonderful doctors, who say I'll be able to go back to normal one day. "

"In the spring, I'm even thinking about getting my nipples tattooed back on. "

"That way, I'll be totally normal."

"I've been taking supplements for my low mood - including magnesium glycinate and vitamin D3. "

"Spending lots of quiet, peaceful time in nature and prayer have helped, too."