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| DivaDebbi Time.com 10/28/13 Photo by Miller Mobley |
A few weeks ago, I was contacted by my friend Sue Friedman, founder and Executive Director of FORCE, an online support group for women who are at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer due to family history. She told me that Time was putting together an issue for the final week of Breast Cancer Awareness Month on women, "before Angelina". Angelina of course does not need a surname introduction. Might I be interested in participating?
Angelina Jolie, one of the most beautiful women in the world had gone public in September, with her decision to do a prophylactic double mastectomy and reconstruction, due to her BrCa 1 mutation. Her mother had died of ovarian cancer and a month after her surgery, her aunt succumbed to breast cancer. Angelina, mother of 6, was not going to let this be her fate.
I was moved by her bravery, not just as a woman who understands it from the inside out, but because she just as easily could have kept this private. Her decision I believe was motivated by her desire to inform and educate.
Bravo Angie.
The article ran today and featured me as well as 15 other "previvors" and survivors, many of whom were photographed with their daughters. I am enormously proud of it and all of the women who have worn our shoes.
I was interviewed extensively by Alexandra Sifferlin, the shoot was coordinated by Mia Tramz and beautifully photographed by famed Miller Mobley. I think they did a masterful job of capturing our stories and our spirit.
I was delighted that my friends Andi Ziltzer and Elizabeth Thompson were also featured. We are all alumni of the same brilliant surgeons, Dr. Andrew Ashikari and Dr. Andrew Salzberg, who pioneered the less invasive Nipple Sparing Direct to Implant reconstruction technique. You can learn more about this one stage surgery, that yield beautiful results here.
It is a fantastic solution for women considering prophylactic surgery, and those who are diagnosed with breast cancer. I also know Dr. Salzberg and his team at the New York Group for Plastic Surgery are incredibly skilled at redoing reconstruction gone awry. If you ever need to reach out to me personally for yourself or a friend, please don't hesitate to do so.
(DivaDebbi)
Here is a link to the Time.com article:
http://healthland.time.com/2013/10/28/before-angelina-the-women-who-outplayed-cancer/photo/timewomen-20644/
Please take a few moments to enjoy them. I am honored to be among them.
xox,
DD
That was a very inspiring article and you look absolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI will look at the article a little later when I have more time but just wanted to drop you a note to say what an absolutely stunning portrait this is!! How wonderful to have been included! xo
ReplyDeleteLilly,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for you kind words!!!
xo,
DD
Q.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! They did a fabulous job. Please do read the profiles if you have a chance.
Shall we forward to Dr. Pat? Would adore, a tweet! The Time peeps covered this big on Twitter.
xo,
DD
DD
You look beautiful ... inside and out. Congratulations. :-)
ReplyDeleteI had seen your new profile picture on PV and thought how stunning you looked. I didn't know at the time that you had been selected by Time to be featured in their article on Breast Cancer Awareness. How courageous you were to decide to have a double mastectomy at a time when people did not talk about things like that, at least in public and then to help other people go through this heartbreaking surgery was just amazing. I don't know you that well but it does not surprise me as I think from reading your blog that you are a gracious woman who would help anybody with anything if need be. I think it was an honour for Time to have you to write about as you certainly are a hero in my eyes.
ReplyDeleteCC,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. That is a lovely thing to say.
Kim,
Your lovely comment brought tears to my eyes. Such a kind thing to say and I appreciate your taking the time to share it with me.. I never felt like the surgery was heartbreaking, only that having the mutation was. Finding that out was worse in many ways than my original breast cancer diagnosis. I am grateful that the information was available, that I was blessed to have amazing Drs. and family and friends who supported my choice whole heartily.
Hugs to you!
xo,
DD