Kelley

TIPP CITY, INDIANA -  Years ago, my sweet friend Kelley came to a Vera Bradley sales event and saw a video. That video featured my daughter, Alexandra.

Alex shared the fact that someone with a serious illness does not go through it alone. In fact, the family of that person lives the experience as well as their friends, neighbors - even our pets! It is a great video, but the kid is the highlight.

Kelley thought so as well. When I saw her a few weeks ago, she told me how Alex was the inspiration for her to get involved. She had a daughter not that much younger and it broke her heart to think all that Alex has endured. So she started an event in her town. 

It had now grown substantially. One of the biggest outside fundraisers, it has taken over the whole town! Stores, restaurants, even entire streets get involved!

And this year, as a special treat, Alex herself will be in the fashion show. With little Ava. So the girl who's mama has cancer can be with the girl who's mama is working so hard to make a change through What a Girl Wants: Fashion for a Cure. :) 

Cheese!

AUBURN, INDIANA - There is something about quilters - they have big hearts and talented fingers. I have a friend who has made a quilt to benefit the Foundation for several years now, and her art is such a gift.

I spoke to this delightful group of quilters recently, and I'm proud to say that this year I did not touch any of them without a glove on. (That's a big no-no in the textile art world, just so you know ...)

When I was done speaking, I asked just one question. Then I took this photo. The question?

Who wants cancer to be CURED? :)

Rearview

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA -  This is the Fort Wayne International Airport in my rearview mirror.  I only get to see this a few times a month in October, most of the month my car lives in the airport parking lot. :) Am I happy to see this in my mirror as I drive away? Yes and no. Yes; because I miss my family. I like being near them, I like hearing their voices live and not on phone messages. I like to sit down with them and watch them as they tell me about their days.  No;  because I am afraid that most people see October as some big "call to action" and then when November hits, they are all done with taking action. I don’t like that. Today – at about midnight last night, actually – I got an alarming text telling me a stage four patient in Indiana is doing poorly. Needed prayers, comfort, compassion. I’m pretty sure this patient doesn’t care that the official action month is over, because she still needs some help. Four days ago, I met a woman who had been diagnosed that day and was petrified. Ditto for her and the October thing. So I’m issuing my own little request to everyone. Pretend October isn’t anything. Pretend that it isn’t the big pink month. Look at the upcoming holiday season and know that there are cancer patients that will need help getting gifts for their children. That they might need help shoveling their driveways. They could use someone to walk their dog when they come home from chemo. That their little kids might like to go to see the newest movie, but mama or daddy is either too sick or too financially strapped to do it. Get the whole family a little movie gift certificate! And then realize that there are 11 other months that they still have to keep forging on; and your helping hand could make a change in their lives that you never even anticipated. (Then send me an email of what you’ve done – I love love love happy stories!!!) PS: For holiday ideas, check out the Foundation team's suggestions - Other Ways to Spread Holiday Hope.

Unique

HOUSTON, TEXAS -  You might not know this, but African-American woman have a higher mortality rate than most other groups. It’s a puzzling and distressing mystery, and one that researchers are struggling to solve. Thankfully, Karen Eubanks Jackson, Founder of Sisters Network Inc.,  has stepped into the role of support leader. Our friends Hope For Women magazine have introduced us to her in this month’s issue, and we are so thankful for that wonderful article. You can never stop learning, especially when it comes to something as baffling as this topic.

She is an 18-year-breast cancer survivor, and has started her work on the best basis there is — 

she just wants to help others. What a delight!

Mission

ATHENS, ALABAMA -  48-year cancer survivor. Forty-Eight Year Cancer Survivor. (That deserves to be capitalized, I think, don't you?) I met her while speaking at an event for a Athens/Limestone Hospital in Alabama. They are driven to provide great health care to everyone who needs it in their community. Nobel mission, indeed. My friend pictured above wanted to make sure she had just a moment of my time before I left.

She is in her 90's and her survivor age is the most impressive I've ever heard. 48, come on. When I asked what I could do for her, what did she want to tell me? Her statement took my breath away.  

"You," she said, "have something very important to do. You have to tell your story as often as to as many people you can. Don't ever stop."  

I told her I would certainly try my best, and gave her a big hug. Just as I was leaving she whispered in my ear:

"You have a big job. But you have a great deal of time to do it in - after all, you've got the whole rest of your life."

So now I'm off, doing my job. For the rest of my life.  xoxo

October

NATIONWIDE - October is upon us. Well, just about anyway. For most of the month, this is what my view looks like at least once a day. I look out of a plane window to my next destination and wonder who I will meet, what stories I will hear and how my life will change because of these encounters. 

So this is the view from a plane traveling who knows where. Think of me when you look up into the sky – or better yet, please come find me at one of the events listed on our facebook page. I’d love to say hi to you in person!

Carolyn

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA -  I can’t, in all honesty, think of a Carolyn that I don’t love. I mean that with all sincerity; they are all just wonderful. Let me tell you about my ‘Carolyn’ experience this weekend.

I speak annually to an amazing group of people. They are independent studio owners – their stores are the ones you see all over the world that encourage you to paint your own pottery pieces – and part of the Contemporary Ceramic Studios Association. (You can find a studio near you at ccsaonline.com.) Movie stars, celebrities and politicians have all jumped on the fun bandwagon to try this art form and love it. I myself am hesitant but paint nonetheless. If I could ever just learn to use more than one color….

Carolyn has heard me speak before, and she has been a passionate supporter of the auctions that happen to benefit breast cancer research. Carolyn decided to create a fun, amazingly creative and colorful glass piece for this year’s auction. It is perfect, in my non-professional artist opinion. It is just such a lovely piece, it was an honor to see it. It is an even bigger honor to be a part of the Foundation she chose to benefit. Carolyn was most recently a Regional Account Manager for iLoveToCreate and attended a Bisque Imports’ event. Studio owner, Julya Myers (Amazing Art Studio in Gaithersburg, Maryland) also attended. They were sitting together in a class and Carolyn asked if Julya would teach her / help her do the project since she had never worked with the medium before. Julya gladly obliged.

Sounds like a pretty ordinary story, doesn’t it? Here’s the catch; Carolyn passed away before she could finish her piece. It was the last piece she ever created, and she was never able to see it to completion. She had asked her friend, Chris Denison from Bisque Imports,  to pick up where she left off. (He is the resident glass guru.) To finish this piece and get it ready for auction. This auction, for this Foundation. 

Hearing this and knowing the backstory, I see it as both a wonderful tale and an amazing metaphor for everyone I meet. I attend events constantly, but the purpose behind them is not for fun, or for play. It is because, to put it bluntly, people are dying. This mission of mine is to do what I can to have less of that. I have a list of people I’ve lost, people I will no longer get to see and be with, and the list is getting longer. Many of them have done just what sweet Carolyn did; start something great, then hand it off like a baton in a race. Thank you, Carolyn, for doing this for our Foundation. For considering us worthy of your incredible efforts. Thank you, Chris, for picking up her baton. For allowing us to be good stewards of those amazingly important dollars. We are raising funds as if our lives depend on it. Because they do.

Help

WORLDWIDE – I  was visiting a friend's breast cancer foundation facebook site yesterday; she has asked me to critique it from the rare perspective of both patient and professional. The review was great; I love what she is putting out there, how she’s saying it, and the number of people already interested in helping her cause. I was immediately drawn to the comments, most of which were from people desperate to help in any capacity.

"Please tell me what we can do to help," "please connect me with someone who needs a ride to treatment," "please let me know if someone needs my services for no cost," etc. I see people who are quite focused on their donations ("I only want mine to go to research, period." "I only want to help women who need money for travel expenses." Things like that.) and I also see quite the opposite. ("I don’t even know what to do or how to help, but my best friend was just diagnosed, and now I’m totally on fire for this cause.")

And I like all of these types of donors. Love, actually.

There are so many resources out there, and it seems to be overwhelming for most people when they want to dip their toes in the "giving pool." "Whom do I turn to if I just want to make sure patients get a ride to treatments?" "Whom should I send a check for wig donations?" I actually talked on the phone for an hour after my speaking engagement yesterday with a woman who had no idea where to turn for assistance, and that was followed that evening with someone who wanted to donate money for services. 

We are all out there, a big group of people who want to help. We are also out there, a big group of people in need of that help. Connecting the two seems to be an intricate dance! My suggestion is based solely on reputation. ONLY ONLY ONLY donate to a group that you know funnels the dollars where you want them to go. That includes products – don’t just shell out cash for a pink ribbon product unless the tag tells you what you need to know. Does it tell you where the money is going? If not, move on and  buy something else. Go to local cancer centers and hospitals – whether you are a patient or donor, they can give you a list of all local service providers that will dispense help and help you to dispense help on your own. 

Here’s the key, in my humble opinion. DO SOMETHING. JUST DO. Get out there and find your cause, your passion, a spot for your commitment. Nothing is too small, nothing will go unnoticed. Foundations, service providers, etc. don’t just need cash, you know. We need donations of things like hotel points, airline miles, rental car points, volunteer time, you name it! (Seriously, we do. Email me at hfloyd@verabradley.com if you want to donate anything listed (or something else) to the Foundation.)   

Jump on board and give us a hand, we fundraisers. Jump on board and give us a hand, we patients. Just jump. :)

Incredible

Tami is a fellow cancer survivor who recently contacted the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer to introduce herself to us, and to say hello. We had been aware of her on twitter for quite some time, it’s always nice to put a face with an internet name!

Tami has written a book and writes her own blog as well.

Her story is, sadly, one that I’ve heard so many, many times as I travel … she had crossed her five-year ‘all clear’ mark, then was diagnosed with a recurrence. She, of course, was given a pretty grim survival rate statistic and decided that she would basically ignore those odds. To quote Tami, “Who was she to tell me how long I have to live?” and is now three years out from that recurrence. Take that, cancer!

She is passionate about a few key things – namely, finding a cure for metastatic breast cancer. The other is connecting with all sorts of cancer groups, for all sorts of cancer. She’s out there now, and would love to connect with you … share your story with Tami!

Pink Elephants

ATHENS, ALABAMA - Last month, Athens Limestone Hospital hosted their third annual “Pink Elephant” breast cancer awareness fundraiser – and as always, it was a sold-out event. This year, I met a jewelry store that participated because they lost the family matriarch to breast cancer, and wanted to do something in her memory. I met a woman who had just been diagnosed and was just starting her treatment. She was amazing - she had attended this event before, and had always helped but of course never suspected that she herself would join this club.

They gave a portion of the proceeds right to the Vera Bradley Foundation; wonderfully generous. Then, a change of pace. They had seen the ‘pink glove video’ circulating out there and wanted to do something to match that theme. So we were all given pink gloves and they took our photo. Then we all went outside where a man was precariously perched on top of a ladder and we formed a ribbon for a picture. Let me tell you, 100 ladies telling a man on a ladder ‘now be careful’ is a lot of fun. Nothing like that many moms checking up on your safety!

This photo is of Kelli. She is one of the many people who attended the event. I love the image that shows her face- full of happiness but surrounded by the sea of pink hands. All ready to pitch in and do what it takes to find a cure.

Photo courtesy Athens Limestone Hospital

Gifts of the Heart

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA - This past week I've received some pretty shocking gifts. Shocking only to me, in that I was totally floored that people would be so wonderful and think of me for my all-clear anniversary. Flowers (amazing), shoes (swooning just thinking about them right now), donations to the Foundation (I heart that), a coffee mug that reads CONSIGLERIE (perfect-o) and then this last gift, pictured above.

It is a blank triptych canvas set. The reason, my friend told me, is that I now can start a new picture of my life. Starting now, from this point on. I think that is such a beautiful sentiment, very moving. And it doesn’t have to apply to only cancer patients ... but anyone who finds themselves on a difficult journey.

Take a break, start fresh. Thank you, my dear one, for this gift. I can't wait to see how your canvas becomes more colorful, too. :)

Laugh It Off

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA - It’s been a long week, and it’s not even over yet. I think when I travel, the work week that follows a weekend trip just wipes.me.out. So end of day on Thursday, I get a call I just have to share with you. I could have gone one of two ways with this; overreact and get angry or just laugh it off. I, as is my new pledge, opted for the latter.

Me: Vera Bradley Foundation, this is Heidi! (Smile, because they can tell if you are smiling or not. Really.)

Darling Caller: Oh, man. Really? Foundation? Are you just Breast Cancer, did I call the Breast Cancer?

Me: Yes, ma’am, I guess I, in fact, am just the Breast Cancer. (Ok, now really smiling because this is hysterical. How often are you identified as a disease and nothing else?)

Darling Caller: Do you know how to transfer me? I don’t want Breast Cancer. (Not just smiling now, trying not to choke with laughter. I DON’T WANT BREAST CANCER EITHER, SISTER, AND YET HERE I AM! And do I know how to transfer? Quite some time ago I mastered the manual dexterity thing, but shoot yea, let’s give the old button-pushing a whirl and see if I can actually handle it!)

So there you have it, my afternoon. This follows 4 straight days of new cancer patient/friends in the waiting, one close scare with a sweet friend (good news, Sarah is ok!) and my endless pursuit of research dollars. This poor caller probably had a pretty rough day herself, and was obviously in a big hurry. I needed a little lift, and she provided it and isn’t even aware. Thank you, darling caller. I hope the Heidi you were looking for and had a good rest of the day. And I don’t want you to get Breast Cancer, either. :)

Girlie Bikes

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - Hi, I’m really it, just darling, stamina aplenty, fear nothing, and oh yea, I’m extremely photogenic. Ok, that’s not what the gals from Team Vera Bradley Foundation said when they met me, but they might as well have. These are professional racers, and they hail from across the planet. Australia, South Africa, Israel, Canada and of course the good ‘ole USA are represented on this team. They have embraced the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer as a cause they want to promote this year, and we are extremely thankful. Who better to be the face of our future? Strong and healthy, brave and confident. They are tackling some big roads, some high hills. They are doing this for us this year, fellow survivors. They are doing it with big smiles and hopeful hearts. As they begin their racing season, I hope to be able to personally introduce them to as many of you as I possibly can. What they are doing can not be measured - in terms of the awareness they are raising - but it will most certainly help us all. Girlie girls, with big mean bikes. :)

Happy Thanksgiving

WARSAW, INDIANA - I’m glad that I am here. Not just physically alive, but of course I am thankful for that every day. I mean really here in little Warsaw, Indiana. If you would have asked me 10 years ago if I would have chosen to come here I would have laughed out loud, of course not! But now that I am here, and can see what my family has been blessed with in this place, I am grateful. I have a job for the best company on the planet that allows me to talk to people who are going through one of the most difficult times in their lives, and have the opportunity to give them comfort and hope. My husband has a job in a church that is a warm, comfortable and amazing family – and growing all the time! My children go to wonderful schools, and the town is just the right size for me to wave at folks at I go on my evening walks. Thanksgiving is a good time for reflection of that for which we are grateful, and in spite of some bumps in the road in all of our lives, it is nice to know that sometimes we are just in the right spot. And remember to be happy there, even if it wasn’t in your original plans. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Moms of the Pink Power Variety

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - There were 9 of us in total, all of us mommies who have been through breast cancer. Three of us were pregnant during that journey, which is kinda daunting. One of the mommies is having a rough go with her radiation, so she couldn’t even join us for the party. :( The common thread, other than the cancer thing? We are all pretty fierce about finding a cure. We all work – hard, and daily – to do what we can to find a cure or to help other women who are going through treatment. At no time during the weekend did I hear anyone complain about a having too small of an office or not being able to climb the corporate ladder. At some point in maturity (staring death in the face helps with this, too) you realize that if you pursue things like that, you are chasing empty dreams. These girls? They know what matters. Amy realized that there was no one to watch the children of chemo patients, so she created a safe, special kids-only waiting room for them while mommy gets treatment. Tracie is in the services business – her non-profit (pinkribbongirls.org) helps connect patients and provide things like hot meals for their families. Jamie is… well… she’s getting her own blog post because I can’t express her cool factor on just one post. We were all connected and treated to an amazing getaway by the Kids ll company. And this company is the rare kind that I will say simply: if you ever are offered a job to be with them, take it. I don’t care how far you have to move your family, or what position you are offered, go. Their compassion is felt from the very top and runs throughout all the employees. They started a line of baby products that donate a portion of the proceeds to breast cancer to ‘give baby girls a brighter tomorrow.' Thank you, Bright Starts, for donating to our charities. Thank you, Sarah, for making it all happen! The next time you have a baby shower to go to, please buy Kids ll products. And be sure to explain to the new mommy that the gift you are giving actually has a deeper impact. For all of us!

Stefanie

COLUMBUS, OHIO - I never met Stefanie Spielman, nor have I met her husband, Chris. She died yesterday at age 42 from breast cancer, leaving Chris and 4 young children; Madison, Noah, Macy and Audrey. Please keep them in your prayers. While I don’t know them, I do know a friend of theirs – and I know their story. If you don’t, I’d like to take just a moment and share it with you. They were college sweethearts, Chris the All-American football linebacker and Stefanie the love of his life. She was 30 and pregnant when she found the lump during a self-exam, sadly this isn’t such a surprise anymore is it? Stefanie later found out the tumor was malignant and also miscarried. To hear of someone so young being diagnosed; I fear we are almost numb to these statistics. She said once "I know there's a reason God gave me breast cancer, and I'm supposed to do something with it." Chris quit his job with the NFL to be by her side during her journey. He shaved his head when she started chemo. This type of quiet valor is almost completely inconceivable. I often see husbands who are supportive and kind, but I am sad to tell you I also see husbands who are not either of those things. Chris seems to be exemplary in this position - and the second man I’ve met or heard of this year in the NFL who were just wonderful when their wives went through breast cancer. Makes me look at football in a whole new light, let me tell you that! Chris gave up so much to be near Stefanie when she needed him most, but I would guess if you asked him today he wouldn’t even have to tell you it was worth it. I’m fairly certain you could see it in his eyes.

Country.Music.Awards

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - Lia from radiolia.com is awesome. Not just a little cool or kind of a nice lady, but one of those amazing people who truly take your breath away with her generosity. She was a nominee this year (again!) at the CMA’s and invited me to join her as a guest. That qualifies as amazing in my book. So the show was spectacular – the best show I have ever seen. Our seats were great, you can see how close we were to Taylor Swift during her performance.



The people there were so much fun, even during the commercial breaks it was a good time. Afterward, I was fortunate enough to meet a few other great people. I’d referred to Randy Travis before on this blog, so it’s no surprise that he was the one singer I wanted to meet the most. He was gracious and sweet, and even thought I was funny. And all this time I thought I was just a riot in my own head! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; if you don’t like country music you have a hole in your soul that needs to be mended. :)

Dangler

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - I am not a dangler. I am not even close. But I know one when I see one, and in my opinion, my favorite team has quite a few. I’ve loved the Blackhawks for decades; so much so that when they didn’t televise the home games in Chicago (don’t ask), I used to listen on the radio. My teenage daughter Alexandra’s first word was “Krivokrasov”, and my youngest daughter, Isabella, sleeps with a practice puck under her pillow. We don’t even have a rink where we live now, but they love it through my enthusiasm. So last season, while I was ‘watching’ a game on twitter (couldn’t get the game at the hotel), I connected with a few great fans and we all started chatting. Then I connected with a great lady at the home office who told me that the players’ wives sell autographed pink (gasp!) pucks during Hockey Fights Cancer night (October 24) and they had chosen the Vera Bradley Foundation to be the recipient. It isn’t often that I am told about an event that makes me pull the car over to cry with joy, but this one sure did. This is a FANTASTIC team that has really make incredible strides in reaching out to their community and to charities as a whole. Thank you, Ashley and Pat for making this happen. Thank you, NHL, for caring enough about fighting cancer to create this amazing event. And Mr. Patrick Kane, if you happen to read this, that teenage girl who knows about Krivokrasov thinks you are heaven on ice. You have my permission to friend her on facebook. :)

Irene & Co. Event, Version 2.0

PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA - While tactfully avoiding any references to Andrew Jackson's march to New Orleans through this wonderful place, I would like to share with you how very cool Panama City is (especially from a historic nature). It was a refuge for runaway slaves and native Americans, it was a paradise for exploring conquistadors; really, it’s just a spot people have liked to visit for a long, long time. Irene & Co., a Vera Bradley retailer, has not been around quite as long as the conquistadors, but is nonetheless a well established favorite of locals and visitors alike. Irene and her husband Ron already did an event for the Foundation this year, but when they heard I’d been invited to speak at another retailer in the area, they decided to do another one a few weeks ago! It was a lovely evening, and I got to spend some time visiting with Donna Bell, a wonderful news anchor who’s heart is very much into the mission of finding a cure. Love her, love the whole crew. I recommend Panama City – even if you are just passing through, be sure to stop at Irene’s and say thanks for caring so much about breast cancer survivors!

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!!!