If you received a bag from My Hope Bag, it was no doubt delivered by lovely women we affectionately refer to as Hope Sisters.  These ladies train to share hope and wisdom with warriors recently diagnosed with breast cancer.  They spend time with the bag recipient and let them share what they are experiencing. The Hope Sister is able to give hope through her own experience, the items in the bag, and the Resource Guide that former recipients were able to combine abilities to produce, which is a part of the bag.

My Hope Bag currently has three Hope Sister Coordinators. We cover the East Valley, North and Central Valley, and the West Valley. If you are interested in learning more about this special program including training to become a Hope Sister, please contact sarah@myhopebag.org or info@myhopebag.org

“When I was going through my cancer journey, I requested a Hope bag. A Hope Sister, who was also a breast cancer survivor, visited me and delivered my bag. It was so encouraging to share with her because she knew exactly what I was going through. I knew when she left that when my cancer journey was finally over, I wanted to serve others the way she served and encouraged me. I have been the East Valley Hope Sister Coordinator for two years and have loved encouraging and loving others experiencing their breast cancer journey.”

If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer and or want to hear more about My Hope Bag’s Hope Sister program, please email info@myhopebag.org for more information.

On April 26, 2024, everyone had a great time. Two sessions allowed more people to participate. Everyone intensely watched their Bingo card while listening carefully for the letter and number they were waiting for. Then, without warning, the room lit up with “BINGO”! It was so exciting!

Many prizes were won which added to the buzz in the room. The two 50/50 raffles were generously donated back to My Hope Bag for its Benevolence fund, aiding with breast cancer patients’ expenses during treatment. Watch for the TWO dates in 2025 when My Hope Bag will once again hold its Bingo for Boobies.

My Hope Bag’s main program is the Hope Sister program. This is a group of ladies who, after training, deliver the Bags to breast cancer warriors. This is a one-on-one visit at the warrior’s home or a public place. The warrior is given the opportunity to talk about her own journey and the Hope Sister, most likely being a survivor herself, will listen and answer questions where she can. The Hope Sister presents the Bag with comfort items which are mostly handmade and will then assess the level of service My Hope Bag can provide.

From its inception, My Hope Bag has covered the East Valley and Central Phoenix.  As the need started rising, My Hope Bag expanded to the West Valley. We would like to encourage more Hope Sisters to serve in the West Valley. If you are a breast cancer survivor, or a current or former caregiver, and would like to serve in our Hope Sister program, please contact info@myhopebag.org. We are also interested in a Coordinator for that area. We would love to share more with you about this program.

Robyn & Beth

By Linda Vuolo

October 18, 2023

This event was very helpful and educational. Banner MD Anderson provided space for several BRA-related vendors to set up their information and share with visitors who ranged from patients and supporters to medical staff. They also shared information from some of their physicians as well as physical therapists and patient testimonials. Our own Linda Vuolo shared her reconstruction experience at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center (BMDACC). Though non-technical, Linda’s advice is a culmination of her experience through her breast cancer/reconstruction journey. Always get as much information as you can before making a decision for treatment.  Here is her testimonial.

“My name is Linda Vuolo.  Thank you for allowing me to tell my story and 4 lessons that I learned. September 25, 2019 – That is when I heard the words ‘You have breast cancer’. Wait what? Me?

• At that moment, the conveyor belt of treatment began, and I didn’t know how to stop it.
• What now? Check with Dr. Google? Oh no, BADDDDD idea. It made me think that I was not going to last through the night.  I didn’t even know what I was looking up!

Lesson 1: Don’t Check Dr. Google!!

• You can check reputable breast cancer sites when you know what you are looking for, but no aimless scrolling.
• I had one biopsy and was diagnosed with DCIS in the left breast. The plan was for a lumpectomy and radiation or chemotherapy.

• But then an eagle-eyed doctor on the MD Anderson breast team suggested that I be checked again at the Banner Imaging Center.
• I was sitting in a dark room with my husband and Dr. Johnston looking at my mammogram images.
• The ONLY sentence I remember was Dr. Johnston saying ‘We need to do a biopsy in another area. This is the difference between a lumpectomy and a mastectomy.’ WHAT?
• Sure enough, there was another area in the same breast with IDC, so I needed to have a mastectomy.
• I could not have done this without leaning heavily on my loving husband Gregg. I hardly remember anything about that day.

Lesson 2: If you can, have someone with you to listen and HEAR what is being said and to take notes

• The conveyor belt was now going full steam ahead:
• The conveyor belt doctors say:

When you have to have a mastectomy, this is what we do…

• Remove your breast
• Put in an expander (the worst invention, ever)
• Then plop in an implant and you’re good to go

• I consider myself a reasonably intelligent woman, but I could not function…I tried Dr. Google again, but still did not understand what was happening.  I thought, surely these doctors (not at MD Anderson) knew what they were doing.
• BTW, my cancer came at a bad time as BMDACC did not have a fully staffed plastic surgery department, so I was sent to an outside surgeon.
• This plastic surgeon said he would answer any of my questions, but I didn’t even know what questions to ask.
• I told him that I saw something online about using my own tissue…he said I was not a candidate for that type of surgery. Really, have you looked at me? I have been saving up this tissue all my life!!
  • What he meant to say was ‘I am not a qualified micro surgeon which is what was needed to perform this delicate procedure’.
• I did not know that I had a choice of staying flat, doing flap surgery, or PAUSING until I understood what was happening to me.
• I heard: ‘If you want to pursue any other options, we will have to stop the conveyor belt and take you offline.’
• Thinking I was making a choice about my survival, I hopped on the conveyor belt even though my GUT was telling me that there was something wrong here.
• After the expander was placed and I had my first fill (I still did not understand what was happening), they scheduled the replacement surgery 90 days after my mastectomy. Really, you know that I will be ready?
  • Yes, that is the way we do it. We will do a reduction and lift on the healthy breast, then you can go on with your life as a survivor.

Needless to say, the conveyor belt won

• After the exchange surgery (replacing the expander with the implant), I felt like a freak. The implant was tooooo big and the reduction of my non-cancerous breast was too aggressive and therefore too small.
• The doctor’s office notes that I had access to said “Patient expected perfection”.
• I never went back to him.

Lesson 3: LISTEN TO YOUR GUT. If you don’t have a good feeling or feel you and the Dr are not a good match, MOVE ON. There are plenty of other qualified surgeons to choose from. It was bad enough having cancer, but I was sooo depressed and felt disfigured.

Enter Dr. Michael Miller at BMDACC. He had just arrived to start building his plastics team.

• I tearfully shared my saga and he said, ‘I can fix you’. Woohoo!!  More tears…this time of joy!
• Miller told me that he could do a flap surgery on me and would use an implant on my natural breast to get them more even.
• He walked me through every detail about how it would go, and explained that I would need several surgeries, but he would only stop when I was happy and satisfied.

Lesson 4: Do not stop until you are satisfied. There are many qualified surgeons out there who do not subscribe to the conveyor belt methodology.

• Miller has built a strong team of surgeons and support staff who are focused on listening to and supporting their patients. In fact, I will say the same for all of the staff that I have encountered at BMDACC.
• I feel that they saved my life…not only physically, but from the deep depression I was feeling.

 So, let’s review:

• Lesson 1: Do not use Dr. Google
• Lesson 2: Keep a loved one at your side
• Lesson 3: Listen to your gut … you have good instincts
• Lesson 4: Don’t stop until you are satisfied

Take a breath…ugly cry when you need to let it out, then pull up your big girl panties and take control of your treatment.

You CAN do this.

Thank you for listening to my story.”

September 24, 2023

Daimler Truck NA holds a charity event/dinner as part of their Annual Parts Conference. Daimler’s Sandra Todd told My Hope Bag, “I selected your charity because I love that you put together a Hope Bag for those who are going through breast cancer.  I think it’s amazing that the people who deliver the bags are also breast cancer survivors or caregivers who understand what the person is going through. I love everything about what you are doing to help those through an extremely tough time in their life.”

Sandra continued, “As we are ending the month of September and going into the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, I thought what better way to end the month than to share your organization with our event to help kick off the next month!  My company would like to make a $10,000 donation for My Hope Bag.” Other donations during the evening equaled $1300. Thank you Daimler for your generosity.

My Hope Bag shared a little about how it helps men and women with breast cancer.  Having a predominantly male audience, gave us the opportunity to encourage men to have an annual breast cancer checkup as well as women. It was great to be able to share that information with over 400 people at the event.  If you want more information about men’s breast cancer, please contact info@myhopebag.org.  Thank you Daimler Truck NA!

September 30, 2023

After three years of not holding the Breast Cancer Resource Expo due to COVID-19, My Hope Bag happily gathered together and held the Breast Cancer Resource Expo on September 30 in Chandler. There were 30 vendors who were able to reach out to breast cancer warriors and their families. Close to 200 guests walked through the hall and received much-desired information to help them through their breast cancer journey.

So many people joined our Village of Hope to make this a meaningful day for all. Officer Timothy Letson led the police department’s Cadet Post #2055, Shelby, Vanessa, Matthieu, Ryan, and Jacob who all happily served visitors attending the Expo as well as Officer Grit Caton. Nick Ciletti, Channel 15 news anchor, visited with the vendors and drew winners for the raffle prizes.

Thank you to all of our participating vendors!!

If you received a bag from My Hope Bag, it was no doubt delivered by lovely women we affectionately refer to as Hope Sisters. These ladies train to share hope and wisdom with warriors recently diagnosed with breast cancer.  They spend time with the bag recipient and let them share what they are experiencing.

The Hope Sister is able to give hope through her own experience, the items in the bag, and the Resource Guide that former recipients were able to combine abilities to produce, which is a part of the bag.

If you are interested in learning more about this special program including training to become a Hope Sister, please contact sarah@myhopebag.org or info@myhopebag.org.

By Angie Jones

My Hope Bag supplied backpacks to Hope Bag recipient families in need of school supplies, on July 14, 2023. My Hope Bag partnered with East Valley Injury Law who assisted in packing and distributing the backpacks. 15 Children from 7 former bag recipients were able to “shop” for their own backpacks and lunch boxes which made the event more fun!!

Cheryl, front desk employee for East Valley Injury Law, had a great time passing out goodies to the children as they entered the building. A huge thank you to the companies who participated in this event: East Valley Injury Law, Evans Garrey, and Amazon. Without their support, this event would not have been possible!!

Thank you to everyone else who donated and to the volunteers who helped make this event happen! If you are interested in volunteering with My Hope Bag, please contact the Volunteer Team at www.myhopebag.org/volunteer.

By Sarah Ellery

We lost the most amazing man, Brian Ellery, on March 7 this year. Brian would affectionately introduce himself to people as “The Man Behind the Woman”. My loving husband was chatting with me one minute, and the next minute he

wasn’t. Life is so fragile. Brian was always there for My Hope Bag right by my side. He loved meeting new people and always enjoyed talking with anyone associated with breast cancer.

He was friends with everyone he met. And he loved all of the My Hope Bag events and watching me get so excited about how many more warriors we were going to serve. But more than all of that was his devotion to his family. He was a loving husband and an amazing father to three wonderful children and one incredible grandson. To say he is missed is an understatement.

We know he is sharing Dad jokes in Heaven and asking God all of those questions of why life happens as it does that he referenced so many times. Hug your loved ones and let them know how much you love them. Don’t take a day for granted, you never know how many you have. We appreciate and thank you for your notes, thoughtful gifts, and being there to help us carry on without Brian.

We love and miss him very much.