For years, Kimberly DeMain dedicated herself to guiding others—her students, her staff, and her two young sons. On November 21, 2012, the day before Thanksgiving, everything changed. DeMain was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer: carcinoma of the breast, metastatic to the liver.
Nineteen years ago, DeMain moved from Florida to Idaho, beginning her career as a science teacher at Cole Valley Christian School (CVCS) in Meridian. One year later, she was promoted to the role of principal, a position she still holds today. At the time of her diagnosis, she and her husband Rob were raising their two sons—11-year-old David and 20-month-old Philip.
The weight of the diagnosis, the treatments, the fear—could have broken her. Instead, she stood strong.
“I remember one night early on, pouring my heart out to the Lord, afraid that I would fade from David’s memory and that Philip wouldn’t remember me at all. I started to break down, and in that moment, God asked me: Do you trust Me? Did I truly believe what I had always claimed as a Christian?” DeMain said. “In that instant, I knew that the Lord loved my boys more than I did—infinitely more—and that, of course, I trusted Him. I trusted Him with my boys’ lives and mine, and that no matter what the outcome, He is good and faithful and loves us without end. After that moment, I certainly could trust Him with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis.”
“I remember my mom early on telling me how she cried out to God, asking Him, ‘Why me?’ And I told my mom, ‘Why not me?’ I’m not special,” DeMain said. “Trials happen to us all, and cancer has helped open my eyes to the pain and suffering that all of us undergo, in all its forms. The point is to bring us to Him so that we can love Him and love others in the process.”
What followed was not only a battle against cancer, but a testament to the power of belief, resilience, and a community that refused to let her fight alone.
“The CVCS community proved to be an extension of my family and God’s presence and support in my life,” DeMain said. “The students rallied around me—creating worship CDs, starting a Facebook Prayer Warriors group, and organizing fundraisers. Basketball teams shaved their heads, and a sophomore girl, Danika Langley, got a buzz cut.” Faculty and student families were equally involved, with high school teacher Melody Moehlmann shaving her head, faculty member Jana Smith coordinating the Kim’s Krusaders team for the Race for the Cure, and others providing support through gifts, prayers, and even a family trip to Mexico.
“It made every day a joy and a privilege to come to school.”
DeMain urges others to trust their own path. “Not every piece of advice is yours to carry. Through prayer, I learned to listen, appreciate the love behind it, and trust the choices I was meant to make.”
Today, Kimberly DeMain is cancer-free, healthy, and filled with joy—radiating the Lord’s light as she continues to inspire and guide the students at Cole Valley Christian Schools.