Guided by Choice, Care and Hope: Tina Sixberry’s Path Through Health, Motherhood and Purpose
Tina Sixberry is a survivor, mother and independent professional whose life reflects a commitment to possibility. Her path has moved through uncertainty and renewal, guided by a desire to live openly, care deeply and move forward intentionally. Through personal health challenges, family life and professional growth, her story illustrates resilience shaped by reflection and choice.
Sixberry’s story traces back to her earliest days, when her mother noticed unusual reflections in her eyes and sought medical guidance. Doctors soon identified retinoblastoma, a cancer of the eye, and removed her right eye as part of the recommended treatment for her case. “I grew up with a sense that my life had been influenced by survival, even if I didn’t fully grasp it at the time,” she shares. “When I later learned that my condition was genetic, it added another layer of awareness. It didn’t dictate my choices, but it certainly played a role in how I approached different moments in my life, especially when I became a parent.”
In her late 30s, while actively trying to conceive, a routine self-check revealed a lump that led to a breast cancer diagnosis. Sixberry’s treatment included intensive chemotherapy followed by a double mastectomy, a period that required physical endurance and emotional clarity.
“When I learned that treatment could affect my fertility, I was encouraged to consider preserving eggs. Moving through that process wasn’t easy, and some moments felt heavy. Even so, the hope of becoming a mother stayed with me and continued to guide the choices I made,” Sixberry states.
Further fertility efforts led to in vitro fertilization attempts that brought mixed outcomes, followed by conversations around surrogacy. During this period, routine oncology screening revealed unexpected news. Sixberry had conceived naturally. The moment felt surreal, carrying both joy and careful consideration due to her medical history. In her early 40s, she welcomed her daughter, Gemma, an arrival that symbolized years of persistence and trust.
Motherhood soon introduced new layers of learning. As an infant, Gemma received a retinoblastoma diagnosis, the same condition Sixberry experienced as a baby. Treatment began early, and Gemma’s calm during procedures became one of several observations that contributed to understanding her neurodivergence, including sensory differences that informed how her care was approached.
“When Gemma was diagnosed with autism, it opened up a kind of terrain I hadn’t walked before,” Sixberry says. “Cancer had been part of my story for so long that, in some ways, it felt more familiar. This, though, asked me to learn a different kind of understanding, and I approached it one step at a time.”
The years that followed involved advocacy, learning and presence. Gemma’s communication developed gradually, with recent milestones offering renewed encouragement. According to Sixberry, many medical appointments took place in rooms shared only by her and her daughter, deepening a bond shaped by constancy. She came to view behaviors as communication, approaching parenting with curiosity and patience.
Alongside her daughter’s journey, Sixberry faced further health decisions. Precancerous uterine cells later led to a hysterectomy, closing the chapter on carrying future pregnancies. Still, Sixberry doesn’t reduce her experiences to clinical summaries and instead views them as chapters in a broader journey of survival and growth. That outlook also guided a personal decision to embrace visibility by wearing a prosthetic eye, a symbol of confidence she later shared with Gemma. “I hope my daughter grows up unhidden and assured in her uniqueness,” Sixberry remarks.
That same perspective of meeting uncertainty with steadiness and choosing presence over fear carried into her professional life. Sixberry built a career in mortgage operations over two decades, a field where clarity, trust and human connection often matter as much as technical skill. Over the years, her work became another expression of the empathy shaped by her lived experiences.
“When people start thinking about buying a home, there’s usually a mix of excitement and a little uncertainty, and I completely get that,” Sixberry says. “My aim has always been to make the process feel clear and comfortable, and to support people in a way they feel genuinely cared for.” As she transitioned into independent work, Sixberry carried forward a people-centered approach defined by the belief that everyone deserves the chance to see their dreams realized. Whether meeting clients online, in person or over the phone, she prioritizes accessibility and clear communication, offering guidance that meets people where they are.
The instinct to create spaces of ease and understanding extends beyond Sixberry’s professional life. Drawing from her background in dance and gymnastics and years of navigating her daughter’s sensory needs, she dreams of building a sensory-focused play space for neurodivergent children. She imagines an environment where movement, exploration and comfort coexist, a place where children can engage freely, and parents feel seen in their own journeys.
Overall, Tina Sixberry’s story continues to unfold with intention. Through health, motherhood and meaningful work, she reflects a life shaped by openness and the understanding that resilience often emerges from choosing to move forward.
