Words

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - Words matter. I always listen – very, very carefully to every doctor and researcher I ever hear. There are a few key things I like to hear, but sometimes it’s not what they say out loud that matters. 

Recently, a group of us went to the IU Simon Cancer Center to hear from some docs that are in the world of cutting edge science. Just an update to see where the world is right now with cancer treatment and research, and all of the exciting things they are doing to help. It was amazing! There will be a great posting soon on verabradley.org, so please keep checking back to see that.

As I was leaving the lab tours, I saw the note above on a refrigerator. I took a photo and put it up right away on my personal facebook wall, just because it was so.wonderfully.inspirational. It boosted me, made me smile, made me want to hug them all. Then, when I got home and checked facebook that night, I learned that so many people felt the same. It was shared, reposted, commented upon, etc. All comments were the same basic message; "we LOVE to see this." 

Sometimes is just the little comments that give us the energy to keep going. To keep taking our medicines, to keep raising funds, to keep lending helping hands. We do it daily, and not because of the big, grandiose statements but because of the little true words that exist in the hearts of those we trust the most. Go, go cancer research!

Healthy Tissue

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - Big weekend for Indianapolis. The Colts won a spot in Superbowl 44 (and I’m sure you will all recall how wonderful those Colts are). Just the day before, another big win for Indy – a huge win for breast cancer researchers worldwide actually. The above photo shows docs from IU and the ZTA sorority from Bloomington, IN. Adorable, aren’t they? More importantly, they are generous, brave and healthy. That’s the unusual part. The girls came to Indianapolis to donate their healthy tissue to contribute to an amazing new bank. There are so many people around the world who want to do something in the fight against cancer, and they feel like giving money just isn’t enough. They walk, they run, they bake, they do all the things asked of them but still feel compelled to continue. What generosity these young ladies have shown, and what courage. Having someone remove tissue from your body is never easy, but they all did it with a smile and smoothie in hand. Thank you, girls, for what you have done for all of us. And as always, thank you to those amazing docs – my prayer remains that you will have to find another field of study very soon. Your work in cancer research will draw to an end when you crack the cure. :)

On the Line

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - Apparently in football they have this thing called the ’50 yard line’. It seems to be an important marker for aficionados – they want their team to cross said line with great regularity, they want the opposing team NOT to cross, they want to make sure their seats are as close to it as one can possibly come, that kind of thing. As a hockey girl, I was only vaguely familiar with said line. Until the day that I put my foot on it at the Indianapolis Colts game (the Sunday, October 4th game). Then I got the whole picture; I was standing in the middle of the field when the soldiers brought in the flags, the national anthem was being sung and the Blue Angels flew over the open stadium. All this before the team even came in! When the Colts ran in, the crowd erupted and a few of the guys came over to us and gave hi-fives and hugs. Some were wearing pink tape and others pink shoes (no one had mentioned how fun the footwear was at these events, I might have attended earlier had I known!). Why on earth was I there, how on earth did this come to pass? The Indianapolis Colts decided to honor breast cancer survivors and one fabulous surgeon from the IU Simon Cancer Center (my own wonderful Dr. Bob Goulet) and I was selected to be one of the survivors on the field. Thank you, Colts, for making such a day for so many important women. And their friends. And their families. We all go through it together. GO TEAM!!!

The true definition of a gentleman

When I first met Dr. Sledge, I was two months pregnant and terrified. I had been told I had breast cancer and that I had to terminate my pregnancy. Working for Vera Bradley gave me tremendous advantage over that terror; however, through the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer. It helps fund some of the work being done by Dr. Sledge, so I went to him to get his medical opinion. It was a long drive and was utterly draining. When I walked in to see him, he was not at all what I expected. He was quiet and sweet - his tone was gentle and calming without being overly optimistic. He never indicated that this would be an easy journey; quite the opposite. After presenting both benefits and risks, he announced that he would save my baby and me, too. Almost 4 years later, I am so proud to announce that he was just elected to be the President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Congratulations Dr. Sledge for saving so many lives. We love you!

Read the story at verabradley.org »