Survivors
Meet the Models: Barbara Bigelow
Barbara Bigelow is a force in the world of breast cancer. Cancer has been apart of her life for twenty years. She was originally diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and entered treatment. What proved to be even more shocking was that in her first year of treatment, her two sisters were diagnosed with breast cancer. Sadly, one sister passed away of metastatic breast cancer.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Donna Brady, Robin Tamburrini & Linda Heney
Donna Brady, Robin Tamburrini and Linda Heney are closer than your average sisters. Together they have faced unimaginable grief. In 1979 their grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She would battle the disease for many years before succumbing in 1999. Similarly, their mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 and passed away in 2012. As a result of the family history, the three sisters were diligent about self checks at an early age. It would turn out to be life saving for Linda, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, one year after her mother’s death. She received a lumpectomy and radiation. Though a nine year survivor, Linda notes, “it scares me because both my grandmother and mother had the same pattern- clear of cancer for a number of years before the cancer returned and ultimately, they both lost their battle.”
Read MoreMeet the Models: Ilene Fabisch
Ilene Fabisch was on her way to Disney World when she got the news she had breast cancer: “it completely blindsided me.” She had no family history, ate clean (mostly vegan) and even competed in triathlons. In fact, she had just completed one a month prior. Though she had never gotten regular mammograms, Ilene did feel a lump under her arm in the shower and felt compelled to go to the doctor.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Joelle Lieman
For years Joelle Lieman diagnosed women with lumps and bumps. As an OBGYN, she was familiar with the difficulty of handing out scary news. She never anticipated it would happen to her, but at 39 years old she found a lump in her breast. Her husband encouraged her to use her diagnosing experience to keep a cool head: “he said, ‘what would you tell your patients?’ to which I responded, ‘there is a low chance that at 39 it’s cancer.’”
Read MoreMeet the Models: Kathryn Selinga
At 31 years old Kathryn Selinga was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer. It was a shocking diagnosis. Very privately, she received treatment and attempted to move on with the rest of her life. After all, she was in her young thirties and was about to buy her first home with her husband. The universe, however, had other plans and at 34 years old, Kathryn was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Kasha Wasylak
Kasha Wasylak was just 26 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She found a lump while showering, but never thought it could be cancer. She reported it to her OBGYN and they both assumed it was a clogged milk duct, as she had completed breast feeding months prior. After several rounds of testing, Kasha got a voicemail that would change her entire life. It was the doctor informing her that she had cancer and to call back immediately.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Marty De Loreto
“At the end of the day you have to find whatever you have in your depths to fight and fight like hell.”
Read MoreMeet the Models: Kim Molleur & Robyn Stewart
Kim Molleur is someone everybody turns to when in need. She’s the type who is truly there for her people and radiates a special energy – in addition to feeling the energy of other’s through her work as a Reiki instructor and a Nurse.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Jodi Gauron
It’s a story heard often in the Runway community: an accidental moment of noticing a lump that turns out to be cancerous. In July of 2019, Jodi Garoun experienced just that, and at the age of 42, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Judy Goodwin
If there’s one thing we can say about Judy Goodwin it’s that she shows up for others – without fanfare or expectation of reciprocity.
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