Posts by Caroline O'Donnell
Meet the Models: Ami Mehr
Her greatest advice to those newly diagnosed: “even when it hurts, you finish the race. You can be in the worst of situations and obviously everyone’s story is different, but you really need to focus on a goal. That’s what is going to get you through.”
Read MoreMeet the Models: Francine Coughlin
Francine Coughlin is the definition of a go-getter. She runs her own nonprofit dog rescue organization, is a mother to a nine year old and supports her husband who is a firefighter/EMT. Just before her 40th birthday, feeling healthier than ever, she got her first mammogram. It would reveal stage 1 breast cancer: “there was no history of cancer in my family so it was extremely shocking.”
Read MoreMeet the Models: Bernadette Anderson
At 69 years old, Bernadette Anderson never felt healthier. Having just graduated from the Institute of Nutrition and prioritizing her own wellness, she felt the strongest she had in years. It’s why her stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis took her by complete surprise: “I was in shock, had a lot of fear and disbelief, but immediately I went into fight mode.” Treatment included surgery, chemo and radiation.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Sabine Manoli
Sabine Manoli has been a breast surgeon her entire life. It’s fair to say she has an extensive and unique view behind the curtain of all things breast cancer and treatments. She herself began mammograms at the age of 35, due to heavy family history. Nearly ever female on her father’s side of the family has had breast cancer and it made the yearly tests nerve-wracking. For ten years she was in the clear, so ironically, at 45, she wasn’t nervous for her yearly check up. It would be the year she got the dreaded call- she had breast cancer:
Read MoreMeet the Models: Alissa Christie, Love Local, Newburyport
Hi Everyone- welcome to Love, Local on this beautiful evening. And thank you for supporting Runway for recovery and such an amazing cause.
My name is Alissa Christie, I live here in Newburyport, with my husband and two daughters. I’m here to tell the story about my beautiful mother, who was my best friend – and her 18 year battle with breast cancer that ultimately took her life 6 years ago.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Shauna Ryan Epstein, Love Local Newburyport Remarks
Hi. My name is Shauna and I joined the Runway community 2 years ago. I danced in honor of
my sister Carly Caswell who passed away from Breast Cancer in 2011.
My public speaking is equivalent to my dance moves so I will keep this short but I did want to
say a few words.
Meet the Models, Nina Abelowitz,
I have to be totally honest, I never attend events like this.
No, it’s not because I don’t believe in them, or don’t have the time, it’s because I’ve dedicated my entire career to cancer care and I feel I’ve given a ton back to the community that way. And I have.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Rebecca Muse-Orlinoff, Love Local, Concord
My name is Rebecca Muse-Orlinoff; I am a Concord native; I moved back almost two years ago with my
husband Justin and two kids, Levi and Zara who are in first grade and kindergarten at Alcott. We love it
here – the great schools, wonderful people and community – and it’s sort of a comfort to know that the
level of cell phone service is about the same as when I last lived here. In the nineteen hundreds.
Meet the Models, SoCal: Jo Lynn Stueve & Carrie Purunjian
Jo Lynn Stueve was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2010. She was shocked: “I didn’t believe it. I was in total denial.” She had no family history and had emphasized being healthy and active her entire life.
Read MoreMeet the Models, SoCal: Tiffany Arias
Tiffany Arias spent each afternoon after school at her grandmother’s house: “she was always feeding anyone who came through the door.
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