Meet Ali Reeder

Today, we’re honored to recognize our ETNU’s Story of Strength Spotlight, Ali Reeder, for her resilience, perseverance and what it truly means to Embrace The New You." There are moments in life that redefine who we are. For Ali Reeder, that moment wasn’t a single event—it was a series of powerful choices to keep going, to heal, and to grow.

Ali Reeder is the Founder & CEO of American Patriotic Services, wife of a wounded warrior, and loving mother to two beautiful children. Ali started her company when it was a male dominated industry. In 2016 as Covid began, during her fertility journey with IVF and while suffering multiple in-utero pregnancy losses, Ali was diagnosed with breast cancer. 

Why does the Spotlight title Stories of Strength best introduce your journey?

My journey was all about Strength. The greatest hardships of my life were situations that fell upon me. The biggest struggles were breast cancer at the young age of 33, while being a mom to my wonderful son who was 3 years old at the time, wife to a wonderful wounded warrior, all while simultaneously having a very difficult fertility journey, including pregnancy losses. My biggest struggles were the hardships that shaped me as time moved on. My journey was not about gusto and bravery, but rather it was about survival. I counted on my family for strength. I focused on the things that we could change instead of the things we couldn’t.

Can you please share about your journey to Embrace the New You?

At the start of Covid, I was diagnosed with breast cancer while going thru a fertility journey. Due to the stringent rules at the hospital, I was basically by myself while needing to undergo a double mastectomy. There were so many things I had no control over. I had no genetics or cancer markers. I presented with unusual symptoms, but fortunately it was caught early. During this period, immediately after giving birth to my beautiful boy, I had e. coli in my uterus and had to be separated from my newborn for the first 2 weeks of his life. I was glad it was caught before needing a full hysterectomy.

It feels insulting to be called brave – I woke up with a bleeding nipple, while mourning the loss of a baby two weeks before. My doctor insisted I get my breasts checked, but I procrastinated. Grief came before health. I still needed to be a mom to my toddler. All of this was happening during the pandemic. I finally put my health first and went to the doctor. I was caught off guard when they started taking me for biopsies and surgery. I went to sleep, woke up, and this is what I have - Cancer at the young age of 33. My son was a light for me, as well as my amazing husband. I realized that everything in life is about perspective. No matter what challenges life throws at me, I kept perspective of how blessed I am. I will not let struggles define me, especially those that I don’t take upon myself. I needed to be strong, not brave. This is the difficult hand the universe dealt me. However, I also had been dealt a lot of amazing blessings – my amazing and supportive husband, kids, sister and parents, as well as living in Florida – 15 min from my favorite beach. It sounds like I’m writing in a dream journal. Me and my family are no strangers to know how fragile life is. This battle happened to me. God gave me strength to push thru the hardships, to win the battle. 

Where did you find your strength to get past your challenges?

I would think about women that didn’t have as lucky as an outcome as I had. I am grateful to know that I would live a long life, and that the aggressive surgery would reduce my likelihood of re-occurrence. I am blessed to have an Incredibly loving and supportive husband of 13 yrs, and together for 17 yrs. He made me feel just as beautiful. “Frozen barbie boobs” we called them. I was not focusing on what they look like. I was focusing on being here for my family and friends. 

I often think about other young women and their journeys with breast cancer. Everyone’s journey is different.  I continue to take care of body and being healthy. I sometimes forgot that I was young and scarred. I always reminded myself that I am a lot more than “just boobs”. Although I have not had tattooing done yet due to complications from reconstruction, my blessings are far louder. I DON’T CARE what others think! This is my journey – It has Zero to do with anyone else. I am confident in who I am. 

What was your biggest obstacle/hurdle to overcome in your journey to Embrace the New You?

My Cancer journey often outshines my fertility struggles. However, my difficult fertility journey was just as hard, and even more painful than my Cancer journey. A lot of women suffer with fertility issues silently – it is often hush, hush. Motherhood is a very important identity, especially having lost two babies in-utero before my cancer and a 3rd after cancer. I kept to myself- cancer you either beat or don’t beat, but having babies is anything but binary.  My loss of babies in utero was 100x harder on my heart than losing boobs- Seeing plastic boobs – I am alive and cancer free – OMG I’m one of the lucky ones!

How do you stay positive?

I don’t allow myself to hear the noise about my body. It is drowned out by the sound of being here for my son, age 8, my husband, and new daughter, age 1 1/2. Blessings drown out how I look. I look the best I can with what I have! My boobs don’t look natural because they are not, but they look like great fake boobs! My skin is so thin which is creating complications of reconstruction. However, my husband and son always make me feel beautiful. I used to be more hyper aware when for example wearing a bathing suit, being embarrassed by my scars. Really, after a little time, I am proud to wear my bathing suit and proud of my scars. I never felt judged, ugly or weird.

When people say, “wow you got a free fake boob job,” I didn’t get offended or hurt. Many people haven’t walked in my shoes. Some are trying to be supportive but just don’t know the right things to say. This was an outer body experience for me! So many people have cancer, and they are all very hard journeys . Breast cancer becomes part of their personality. I DON’T. don’t shout from the roof, I don’t wear pink. I don’t let it become me. What I went thru is NOT who I am. I am a loving mom and wife first – the two greatest roles.  I am very active. I love the outdoors. I am a beach bum. I love music. I am a wildlife. My life shines far brighter than Cancer!

I focus on what I have control over. Five years later, I have a beautiful baby girl. I don’t celebrate cancer anniversaries. I am fortunate to be a candidate for reconstruction. That’s the focus, not the type of boobs I have. I gave myself little time to dwell. I needed to make shifts. I count my blessings for my loving support systems and I keep moving forward. I don’t like making things ceremonial, except happy things and blessings.

What advice can you give to others who are also facing their own challenges/journeys?

We all have our journeys with hardships. A lot of people keep it private and a lot make it public. I focus on the good things. I learned this lesson early on, and had to hold onto this lesson. In 2016, my son’s birth wasn’t the journey I wanted to have. It was anything but peaceful and calm. It is all about perspective. I use it as a coping mechanism to recalibrate and know where my focus should be.

With this new generation, people are more accepting of others. This is making it more comfortable to love yourself, your scars, yourself as you are. Everyone handles things differently – some use dark humor, being loud, and many other methods. It doesn’t matter what the method, it is what works for you! There is NO judgement. It is whatever helps to heal you in your journey. 

Another important piece of advice. Women need to check themselves more often – Cancer is not prejudice! Also, fertility issues, IVF, and in utero pregnancy losses used to be hushed topics. It was the ability to talk and share my experiences which is what brought me to earthside. 

Which ETNU design (Sun, Turtle, Sunflower, Phoenix, Butterfly) resonates most with you? Why?

The Turtle ETNU design resonates most with me because the turtle is slow and steady. They are adaptable and resilient. Just like me 😊

How has the mantra Embrace the New You – ETNU inspired you?

We are all meant to evolve. It can be scary. You may miss a previous version of yourself. That’s ok. Don’t beat yourself up. You are older and wiser. It is because of sacrifices, and if you focus on the brighter parts, your life will be beautiful

I am smarter, calmer, and ready for things. I am overwhelmed with good things. The next hardship can be right around the corner so take every day, every breath, and be grateful. Whether it’s God, mother nature, or whatever protects you, it will keep you moving in a spiritual sense. The new me may look different than before, but the new me is better. The new me cares about my health. I don’t relate to the 2019 Ali anymore. I am smarter now. I have Embraced the New Me. 😊

What is your favorite quality/strength about yourself after Embracing the New You?

I love my ability to keep marching forward. I am a pretty busy woman, I need to keep my business, my family and house going. I do the best to handle all with grace in 24 hrs. 

What is a fun fact about you?

Sewing is one of my favorite hobbies – like a little old grandma. I make clothes for my kids, quilts, and more. I have a hobby room in my house that I love to get lost in. I picked up sewing during my cancer journey. Busy hands empty the mind! It is very good to have a creative outlet. I had my first sewing machine at age 6. It is a great hobby to let my creativity shine.

Through every scar, every loss, and every moment Ali Reeder had to face, Ali chose to be strong and rise. Her journey is not just one of survival, but of transformation—proof that strength isn’t about never breaking, but about finding the courage to rebuild again and again. As part of Embrace the New You’s Stories of Strength Spotlight, Ali Reeder’s you than ever before.