Posts by Caroline O'Donnell
Meet the Models, New England: Musu-Kulla Massaquoi
Musu-Kulla Massaquoi was a mom to two girls, ages 8 and 11 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. The diagnosis came around the holidays and ever the incredible mother, she chose to keep the news from her family so as not to ruin the magic for her children. When she did tell family, the news was met with shock. The only girl with six brothers, the news hit them hardest because they “couldn’t really fight or protect me from this.”
Read MoreMeet the Models, New England: Kendall Smiley
Kendall Smiley credits her bucket list for saving her life. At 36 she entered a body building competition to check another goal off the list. She would go on to do much more than that, competing in multiple events and coming in first for most of them. On a strict eating and workout regiment, she was acutely aware of every aspect of her body. It’s why, when she felt a pea sized painful lump in her breast, she consulted her doctor right away.
Read MoreMeet the Models, New England: Heather Sandquist
One month before her scheduled mammogram, Heather Sandquist felt a lump. She figured she would hold off addressing it until her scheduled appointment, but a few weeks later, when the lump was bigger, she decided to see her PCP.
Read MoreMeet the Models, New England: Lisa Hanson
“It’s a tough thing to hear. I was alone with my dog at the time and I sent my husband a text to pull over so I could tell him. There was just silence. That was hard to take.”
Read MoreMeet the Models, New England: JoAnne Loretti
JoAnne Loretti was familiar with breast cancer after her mother’s battle in 1993. Even so, when her annual mammogram resulted in a call back, she “didn’t think much of it.” The follow up imaging revealed three masses and immediately JoAnne thought, “please don’t let it be in my lymph nodes.” Her prayers were answered when a mastectomy removed all of the cancer and no chemo or radiation was necessary.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Rebecca Read
Rebecca Read spent all of 2020 as an emergency room nurse during the height of the pandemic. It was an extremely stressful period of life, which is why she felt like, entering 2021, things were starting to return to normalcy. That feeling wouldn’t last long when, after receiving the COVID vaccine, she had an adverse reaction. The reaction prompted doctors to take a CAT scan of her chest, which revealed a lump. Further testing would result in a breast cancer diagnosis on November 30, 2021.
Read MoreMeet the Models, New England: Renee Plodzik
“there is so much in the breast cancer world about early detection and so little about support after you have been diagnosed.”
Read MoreMeet the Models, New England: Sarah Martarano
Sarah Martarano was 43 when she decided to do some self care and schedule all of her routine doctors appointments. During her appointment with her PCP, a lump was found and she was immediately referred to a breast center. That same day, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and months of grueling treatment ensued.
Read MoreMeet the Models, New England: Jennifer Leventhal
When her sister Meredith Parkinson was diagnosed with breast cancer, “we were leveled” and completely shocked. Avid about her own mammograms, Jennifer received a clear mammogram in November 2021. In January however, she felt a lump and immediately called the doctor: “if Meredith had not been diagnosed, I don’t think I would have been as proactive. Otherwise, I would have just gone off my previous healthy mammogram and waited until the next year.” Even just the fact that she did a self exam is an ode to Meredith, as she had never been doing them previously.
Read MoreMeet the Models, New England: Kathleen Friel
“Five years later and I am still here and living. This diagnosis is not just a go home and die situation.”
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