Meet Jessy: My Story From Cancer Care to the Outdoors

ByJessySanchez

The Story Behind Jessy From Our World With Jessy

If this is your first time on the blog, hola and welcome! (yes, I am bilingual in case you were wondering…)

My full name is Jessica but most people call me Jessy.

I’m a mid-30s Mexican-American woman, tea drinker, mountain wanderer, and storytelling photographer based in Colorado. I’m the heart behind Our World With Jessy, but honestly, this story starts long before I ever picked up a camera or hit the road in a truck camper.

I currently work as a Travel Radiation Therapist in cancer centers across the US while traveling on the weekends with my husband Phil.

I was drawn to that field after losing my younger brother to cancer when he was just 20. I held my hand over his heart as he took his last breath.

That moment shifted everything I thought I knew about life. It reminded me just how fleeting and sacred it is. I made a quiet promise that day—to never take it for granted again.

Choosing healthcare felt like a way to honor that promise. I wanted to walk beside others through the unimaginable. And for years, I have.

But over time, I felt the quiet weight of living only for others. I had honored my brother. I continue to care for my patients as a full-time travel Radiation Therapist—a role I hold with deep respect.

And still, I felt a pull to also return to myself—to begin creating a life that holds space for joy, freedom, and creativity alongside my work in healthcare.

That pull led me back to the things that made me feel most alive: travel, the outdoors, photography, and storytelling.

Where It All Began

My love for travel? It started in the backseat of my family’s car when I was 8—on road trips through Mexico, Florida, and Canada. I’d lie down, staring out the window at a star-filled sky, feeling wildly free.

In my 20s, my now-husband Phil (and creative partner) took me camping in Colorado for the first time. It was a total disaster—freezing temps, a train horn at 3am, and zero clue what we were doing. But something clicked. I wasn’t hooked because it was easy. I was hooked because it felt real.

Photography came next. I was standing in Arches National Park during a sunset so breathtaking it made the La Sal Mountains glow pink.

I pulled out an old Canon camera, snapped a photo without a clue what I was doing—and felt something sacred stir inside me. It wasn’t just about capturing the view. It was about remembering the moment I felt most present.

The Trip That Changed Everything

In 2021, Phil and I sold 90% of our belongings and set off on a six-month road trip across the American West. While we had a loose plan, the best parts were the ones we didn’t expect:

  • conversations with locals in tiny towns
  • stumbling upon alpine lakes
  • cooking outside with no cell service
  • resting without needing to “do”

That’s when I realized—slow & mindful travel wasn’t just a preference. It was a practice. A way of moving through the world with care, curiosity, and consciousness.

That is when Our World With Jessy was born.

Why This Space Matters

I created this space to help others explore Colorado (my home base), The Rockies (a region I hold deep in my heart), photography (a fun way to capture our stories), and travel more intentionally.

In addition to all of that, I hope to inspire more diversity in the outdoor & creative space. My brown girls, I’m looking at you!

As a Latina woman in the outdoor space—and the darkest-skinned woman in my Mexican family—I know what it’s like to feel left out of the narrative. So I’m building something different. A space for women like you—the thoughtful, curious, creative ones who are tired of fast-paced itineraries and performative content.

The ones who want to:

  • Create an inclusive community of seen & empowered diverse female mindful outdoor travelers and creatives.
  • Share the beauty and our connection with nature. How our lives are elevated when we travel, explore, & spend time outside.
  • Advocate creativity, self-expression, and voice. Inspire worthiness of taking up space.

A Few Fun and Important Things To Know About Me…

  1. I don’t like coffee. I know, I know. My love for a cozy beverage is reserved for a cup of tea.
  2. I pack at least one journal and one book on every trip.
  3. I stay too long at scenic overlooks.
  4. I love rest days filled with cooking, working out, and reading outside listening to the birds.
  5. Food is one of my love languages. I love to eat, cook, and taste all kinds of cuisine!
  6. I still dream of journaling in a quiet Italian café someday.
  7. I dance when no one’s watching (and sometimes when they are).
  8. I absolutely love the show New Girl. I reference this show a lot…a lot. (first reference already…)
  9. I’m still grieving my sweet pup Leo, who taught me what it means to love fiercely. Mama misses you.
  10. I absolutely love photography. There’s something powerful about having a camera in hand— I get to slow down time, honor small moments, and tell stories that matter.
  11. I’m deeply proud to be a Mexican-American woman, raised by hard-working immigrant parents who taught me resilience, humility, and heart. One of my biggest dreams is to take them to more places around the world—so they, too, can experience the beauty, freedom, and joy that they sacrificed so much for me to have.
  12. I hope to inspire even one woman that no matter how “different” you may feel… you belong. (I struggled with this for years before I created Our World With Jessy)
  • Family Photo
  • Mama Misses You…
  • A girl named Jessy hiking and smiling on a trail in Westcliffe, Colorado by Our World with Jessy
    You Belong

Why I Travel This Way

Mindful travel isn’t a trend—it’s a lifestyle and a conscious commitment. It’s about slowing down, treading lightly, honoring local communities, and being honest about how we show up in the world.

You don’t need a summit to feel adventurous.

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is listen to yourself, follow your rhythm, and build a life that actually feels good.

That’s what I’m doing here.

And if that speaks to you—I’m so glad you’re here.

If you’re new here, here are a few ways to explore this space: