Sunshine Sentinel

Support is pouring in for Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, whose breast cancer diagnosis was announced earlier this week.

Politicians took to social media in a bipartisan way to offer support for the first lady.

Democrat U.S. House Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz's Twitter post supporting Florida first lady Casey DeSantis. | twitter.com/DWStweets/

".@FLCaseyDeSantis, you are in our prayers and we are in your corner," Florida's Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody said in a Twitter post Monday, Oct 4, the same day DeSantis' husband, Gov. Ron DeSantis, issued a statement announcing the diagnosis. "We know with your strength and spirit you will win this fight. Florida loves you and the entire First Family."

U.S. House Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat from Florida's 23rd Congressional District, referred to her own fight against breast cancer.

"As a #breastcancer survivor also diagnosed at 41 and a 14 year survivor, I'm wishing you the strength you need to fight and win this battle," Schultz said in her own Twitter post. "The breast cancer survivor sisterhood knows no party. Please reach out if I can help in any way."

Democrat U.S. House Rep. Charlie Crist, who is running against Casey DeSantis' husband in next year's general election, said in his Twitter post that he was praying for the first lady and her family.

"Here’s to a successful treatment and a speedy recovery," Crist said. "Almost every family has been touched in some way by cancer, and our hearts are with you in this fight. God bless."

Other social media posts in support of Casey DeSantis include Democrat Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, Republican Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson, and Republican U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.

Casey DeSantis is best known as the state's first lady for her championship for many causes and for launching four major initiatives since her husband first was elected governor in 2018, according to her bio on the governor's website. Among those initiatives is Hope Florida – A Pathway to Prosperity, Economic Self-Sufficiency and Hope, aimed at uniting communities on an individualized path to prosperity through collaboration between the private sector, faith-based communities, nonprofits and government entities.

In February, she launched the Resiliency Florida initiative, a partnership between professional sports teams and athletes to address the stigma surrounding mental health.

In September, she took to her Twitter account in support of Suicide Prevention Month and Florida Missing Children's Day, and to recognize Cesar Santos as Hispanic Heritage Month's featured artist.

Casey DeSantis also is known for a certain amount of refreshing spontaneity. More recently, she stopped for a lunch visit at The Diner in Orlando, where she took the "opportunity to visit with Vinny and the hardworking team," according to her Twitter account.

In his statement released Monday, Oct. 4, her husband referred to her as "the centerpiece of our family" of five who "has made an impact on the lives of countless Floridians."

"As she faces the most difficult test of her life, she will not only have my unwavering support but the support of our entire family, as well as the prayers and well wishes from Floridians across our state," Gov. DeSantis said in his statement. "Casey is a true fighter, and she will never, never, never give up."