Survivors
Meet the Models, SoCal: Sarah Lopez
“it’s all about hope.”
Read MoreMeet the Models, SoCal: Carmen Hernandez
Focus on the positive, find the little moments of joy and small victories. Don’t hold onto negative.”
Read MoreMeet the Models, SoCal: Maria Glaze
Maria Glaze was a uterine cancer survivor, single mother of two high school boys and only 40 when she lost her job. It forced her to take a part time job with an extremely long commute. After her acceptance to culinary school, she was offered the job full time. Initially rejecting it, her supervisor convinced her to stay. Little did she know, after months of feeling extreme fatigue (which she thought was just due to her schedule), tests from the doctor would come back confirming stage 3 breast cancer.
Read MoreMeet the Models, SoCal: Patty Nandy & Danielle Cronin
Patty Nandy was very familiar with breast cancer. Her grandmother, aunt and mother all had breast cancer, which meant she was familiar with the brutality of the disease. It’s why, when her mammogram caught signs of cancer, she was not overly surprised. She was 50 at the time and when it was determined that she would not be able to take tamoxifen, Patty opted for a bilateral double mastectomy.
Read MoreMeet 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: 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, New England: Kimberly Daly
“I didn’t want to spend all of my time being sad and mad. I had to know there was going to be an end where I could be ok.”
Read MoreMeet the Models, New England: Justine Egan-Kunicki
The experience of cancer, she notes, makes one confront their own mortality, but in the same token “you also learn how strong you are. Despite the struggle, I have learned I am a strong person who can persist and continue to enjoy life.” Indeed, though she get the phrase of ‘new normal,’ Justine prefers to say she’s reframed her life now: “You find a way to make a new life.”
Read MoreMeet the Models, New England: Heather Pardo
Heather Pardo resides in the southern most tip of Texas. It’s a community she is grateful everyday to be raising her three boys in: “McAllen, TX is a real family oriented, traditional Hispanic community. Love, food and taking care of each other is part of the every day, and when something happens, like breast cancer, it’s even more so.”
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