First Sister Survivor Meeting

Thanks to all of those survivors who showed up at our first meeting last Thursday. The attendance was more than we hoped for. We counted 27 survivors!

Dr. Bishop shared his ideas about why a support group is needed. He introduced himself and his staff.

Dr. Tittensor also shared her reasons for supporting this group.

Kara Herron talked about the support group meetings that we'll be having. The meetings will be held monthly in the board room at the law offices of Fillmore Spencer Attorneys, located at 3301 North University Avenue, Provo. (Jamestown) Right now we will be meeting on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. There will be a theme for each meeting. An email will go out a week before the meeting as a reminder of the time, place, and subject. Come prepared to discuss items pertinent to breast cancer. You are welcome to bring your husband, or your care-giver. ALL questions are welcome.

Colette Hansen talked about the quarterly activities, and service projects we hope to hold. Some of the ideas we've come up with for service projects include, making blankets for chemo patients, bracelets, pillows, warmers, etc. for those going through breast cancer. We also want to have quarterly activities that will be informative... we'll have guest speakers, such as doctors, nurses, and other professionals. We'd also like to have panels. In addition to these quarterly meetings, we're hoping to have activites that can involve our families - picnics, walk-a-thons, etc.

Bethanie Newby used a get-to-know-you activity to illustrate the importance of what our support group is trying to do: bring women who have had breast cancer - both survivors and current cancer patients - together to talk, have questions answers, and participate in a sisterhood of women. We all need to talk to others about what has happened, and what is happening, to each of us. No one understands what we are going through except other breast cancer survivors, right? Bethanie introduced our one-on-one mentoring group called Bosom Buddies. We had a sign up sheet for those who wanted to help with this program. Those who want to be Bosom Buddies put a star on the map of Utah Valley. The map is split into 3 general areas:
1. Lehi, Alpine, Cedar Hills, Highland, and American Fork.
2. North Orem, Lindon, Pleasant Grove, and anything east (such as Heber)
3. South Orem, Provo, and everything south.

Thanks so much to those who helped with our first meeting, including Dr. Bishop's staff, and his beautiful wife - the source of all that yummy food! It was incredible.

We are all in this together, ladies. Let's come together once a month and support each other. Breast cancer is a journey that no one should walk alone.