Success Stories

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors we were able to grant more than $1.91 million dollars toward breast health programs in Dallas County during the 2011-2012 grant cycle. Thousands of people are served each year through the Komen Dallas County community grants program, below you will find stories sharing how your contributions have touched the lives of just of a few of the people in our community.

Asian Breast Health Outreach Project - Methodist Richardson Medical Center

This is the story of a woman touched by the efforts of the staff and volunteers of the Asian Breast Health Outreach Project. Thanks to their work, she was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer which greatly improved her treatment options and her chances of survival.

With grants from the Dallas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen®, the Asian Breast Health Outreach Project (ABHOP) at Methodist Richardson Medical Center empowers the Asian communities to be proactive participants in their breast health by providing education, screening, and diagnostic services to the underserved. At a Vietnamese outreach event recently, a husband stopped at ABHOP’s education table to get screening help for his wife. It had been about two years since her last screening and she did not think about it until they saw ABHOP.

The program staff and volunteers spoke her language and were able  to share pertinent breast screening information and schedule her appointment for a free screening. Her screening result turned out abnormal. ABHOP continued to provide the services she needed and guided her through the tests until diagnosis was reached. She was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer and the program immediately found her treatment assistance.

She is very thankful for Dallas Affiliate of Komen® for providing funding to ABHOP so that she could have this access to care in her community. Her husband especially appreciated ABHOP for going beyond the call to follow up with his wife. He wants more people to know about the importance of mammogram screening, because breast cancer affects many and screening saves lives!

April 2012

Click here to learn more about the Asian Breast Health Outreach Project

YWCA of Metropolitan Dallas Success Story

Komen Dallas County was able to fund the Women's Health Program at the YWCA of Metropolitan Dallas during the 2011-2012 grant cycle. This is the story of Cynthia, a 58 year old self‐employed artist who is unable to afford health insurance. With teary eyes, she thanked staff members for the services YW has offered her. 

I’ve had mammograms before, I know for sure I had one in 2003 and 2009 and every now and then I would notice flyers for free mammograms. I must start by pointing out that I am an intelligent, college educated, hard working person. I just don’t have health insurance. I know what a mammogram is, and how important it is to get one. I don’t want someone to beat me over the head with it. I know it, I just can’t afford it.

I heard about an event at a local hospital and showed up thinking they would provide me with a free mammogram, but it wasn’t free. They wanted to charge me for it. After requesting more information they referred me to YW. I visited the YW website and signed up for a mammogram screening and the financial education workshop.

I didn’t know what to expect when I went in to get my mammogram done, but the place was beautiful and the people were so kind. They didn’t treat me like “Oh here comes another person for free.” The doctor was great and the technician was concerned about making sure it didn’t hurt. She let me know what she was doing and why she was doing it. I needed a sonogram and to my surprise YW has a grant that pays for that too!

They walked me through it and when I got the call that there was nothing wrong with me, I cried! I am just so grateful.  I didn’t realize how much stress this was causing me until I heard the news.

My sister had breast cancer so it’s something that is in the back of my head all the time. I try not to think about it, but anyone with breast cancer in their family lives in stress over it. I cannot thank YW enough. Thank you.

Cynthia
December 2011

Click here to learn more about the YWCA of Metropolitan Dallas  

Methodist Health System Success Story

Komen Dallas County was able to fund the Mobile Mammography Outreach Program at Methodist Health System during the 2011-2012 grant cycle. This is the story of Koco Powell a 36-year-old woman currently battling breast cancer with help from your contributions.

Coqueace "Koco" Powell actively chooses not just to survive, but to thrive as she faces the challenges presented with the discovery of breast cancer. You don't have to see her photo to know that she's a fighter against breast cancer.

"I was doing a self-exam and saw something that was protruding and felt a little hard. I asked my mom what she thought and she felt I should go get it checked out," Koco explains how she detected the cancer. She didn't have insurance but knew she needed to get a mammogram. She realized it would be costly without insurance with even more costs if she needed a biopsy. "One of my girlfriends had just gone to a class where she learned about Komen Dallas County helping women in need get free mammograms." The Dallas County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen grants funding to Methodist Health System to provide screening and diagnostic procedures for Dallas County residents at no cost for those who qualify. Koco was an eligible recipient.

She came to Methodist Dallas Medical Center for help, visiting its Women's Imaging Center for a mammogram, followed by a sonogram and biopsy. "A week later I learned that I had Stage 3 breast cancer. A week after that, I had lymph node surgery, and a week after that I started chemo," she explains. She finished chemo in late summer and had another surgery.

"Breast cancer suddenly turned my whole life upside down," she states with conviction, "But I would say that it hasn't all been negative, on the positive side my family has grown closer. Also, I've been humbled and am opening my mind and heart to new and different things. I have been able to help a lot of other ladies."

Koco actively uses social media to talk about breast cancer and the vital need for early detection. "A lot of people think I'm crazy when I say this, but I now thank God for giving cancer to me because he must have thought that I could do something positive as a result of my diagnosis."

While she fights this disease, she looks firmly forward, saying she would love to work in every way possible to motivate and inform women about breast cancer - especially those women under the age of 50. "I tell everyone I can that it's not an over-50 disease. I would love to talk to more women under the age of 40 about this, about the importance of self-exams and watching for warning signs."

Koco is energetically embracing her journey and looking for every opportunity to use her survivorship to inform other young women and share with them a measure of survivor's wisdom and optimism for the world ahead.

"I put on makeup and nice clothes to make me feel better. Be positive. When you can, don't feel or act like you're sick. Don't stop doing or being who you were and still are," she advises. "Cancer doesn't define you - it's just a temporary and unwelcome visitor. You didn't ask for it to come. Find out what you're supposed to learn from it as just another of life's trials. I've been learning a lot of different things. Open up your heart to every life being short and appreciate everyone and everything around you."

Koco Powell
August 2011

Click here to learn more about Methodist Health System


Bridge of Blessings Success Story

Komen Dallas County funded Bridge of Blessings Financial Assistance Outreach during the 2011-2012 grant cycle. The Perrine's are just one of the families Bridge of Blessings was able to help with this grant:

Where does one begin when trying to express gratitude that is clearly inadequate compared to the extent of support that Bridge of Blessings has bestowed upon my family? My wife was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer close to four years ago and continues to fight the fight. With two children under the age of six, day-to-day financial obligations, job and caretaking responsibilities, the varied burdens would have been overwhelming. It was by the love and support of organizations like Bridge of Blessings that enabled our family and my wife, to focus on the issue at hand - to battle against a disease that knows no mercy and is ever sleepless in waiting.

We have received countless prayers by friends, family, and strangers alike and we are so grateful, but there is no greater demonstration of charity and love than the action that accompanies the prayers and thoughts. I know that our family would be in a much darker place if not for the generosity and love of Komen and Bridge of Blessings. I pray that more families become aware of the loving gift that is of God, which is Bridge of Blessings!

Richard Perrine
July 2011

Click here to learn more about Bridge of Blessings