Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday that Casey DeSantis, his wife of 11 years and the mother of their three children, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
In a statement posted on social media by Tampa Bay Times political editor Steve Contorno, DeSantis delivered the sobering news while praising his 41-year-old wife as “a true fighter.”
“I am saddened to report that Florida’s esteemed First Lady and my beloved wife has been diagnosed with breast cancer,” the statement said. “As the mother of three young children, Casey is the centerpiece of our family and has made an impact on the lives of countless Floridians through her initiatives as First Lady.”
“As she faces the most difficult test of her life, she will have not only my unwavering support but the support of our entire family, as well as the prayers and well wishes from Floridians across our state,” the statement continued, ending with the declaration:
“Casey is a true fighter, and she will never, never, never give up.”
No other details about the diagnosis were released.
The couple has been married since 2010.
According to her official biography, Casey Black was born in Troy, Ohio, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the College of Charleston, worked for the PGA Tour as a producer and on-air host — and earned an Emmy for on-air talent while working in Jacksonville, Florida.
Fox News reported Casey DeSantis is also a three-time equestrian national champion, as well as a runner-up NCAA division one champ.
As Florida’s first lady, Casey DeSantis launched four initiatives, including the Resiliency Florida Initiative, a partnership with professional sports teams and athletes, including Tom Brady, David Beckham, and Peyton Manning, to address the stigma surrounding mental health.
Most recently, she spearheaded the Hope Florida — A Pathway to Prosperity, Economic Self-Sufficiency, and Hope, aimed at uniting communities through “care navigators” who help guide residents to prosperity through a collaboration of the private sector, faith-based community, nonprofits, and government entities.
The DeSantis family has two daughters, 4-year-old Madison and 18-month-old Mamie, and a son, 3-year-old Mason.
According to statistics from BreastCancer.org, about 13% of U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. In 2021, an estimated 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the United States, along with 49,290 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer.