Our amazing friends share inspirational words.
TETWP extended a hand
Life can come at you fast. And when it does, you find yourself with more questions than answers. I did, when I got my cancer diagnosis last spring. What to do, where to go, how to get there and where to stay when you do.
Tough Enough To Wear Pink extended a hand, and helped me with a big part of this battle. I offer my sincerest gratitude to this wonderful organization. I ask all of you planning your donations to consider TETWP. Their understanding and support can be crucial.
Because you never know, until you know … and then you know.
-Rob Wattles
TETWP and the medical care I received from GVH and Shaw Cancer Center/Vail Health gave me the hope and support I needed. It was such a relief to be able to get nearly all of the tests I needed locally and feel confidence in our local providers, specifically Dr. Campbell. I was a wreck during a few of our appointments and she saw that I needed support and offered it in a very loving way. Heidi with TETWP was always available to listen and offer emotional support, but it didn’t end there. Read more…
-Anonymous
It is impossible for me to put into words how amazing TETWP is. The kind words, the encouragement, the services. Most importantly, the people. My family and I cannot thank you enough for everything you all have done over the last 5 months. The organization and the donors and the volunteers are truly amazing, wonderful, incredible… no words can even describe.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I would like to recognize all the survivors, all the families and friends, the doctors, the nurses. And most importantly, the TETWP crew in the Gunnison Valley. YOU are a blessing and YOU gave me hope and showed me there was a light at the end of this tunnel. Thank you. Read Staci’s Story…
-Staci Melby
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2017, my world was effectively shattered. Nothing really bad had never happened to me personally before.Since then, I have been overwhelmed with the support of friends, family and new acquaintances made during my cancer treatments. A large portion of this support came from the wonderful TETWP organization.TETWP has been there for me since Day One. One great area where TETWP has helped me has come in the form of being able to borrow the Toughy Truck to use for my almost-weekly trips to the Denver metro area where my care team practice is located.Just knowing that I could look forward to a very comfortable ride in Toughy helped me tremendously. Aside from the very “coosh” and smooth ride, the truck symbolized my journey with breast cancer.By this, I mean that like many, I had only paid attention to the Pink movement peripherally. I knew that it was a support system for breast cancer patients and survivors, but I did not really understand the “pink thing”.Each time that my husband took me to Denver in Toughy, just riding in the truck gave me food for thought. People who saw us parking somewhere with the truck would give me a friendly thumbs up or cheer; Hospital valets asked about the truck each week; My doctors were so excited to hear of such a wonderful gift.All of these experiences brought me to fully understanding the “pink thing”. It has brought me incredible strength, understanding and fortitude.– Anonymous Breast Cancer Patient
To the Tough Enough To Wear Pink Board:
What you do is making a difference in lives in this community each day. We are fully up and running with 3D tomosynthesis now at GVH. We are recommending 3D tomo to each patient, while still giving them the option for only 2D if that is what they want. Last week, we had a patient come in for a routine mammogram. Our techs did a 2D tomo screening (I believe but have not confirmed the 2D was for “education”). The 2D came up completely clear. When our mammography tech did the 3D screening, there was a clear and glaring issue. Had we not had the 3D tomosynthesis machine that Tough Enough to Wear Pink so generously donated to GVH, we would have sent this individual home with a clear screening to return for an annual in 12 months. This machine is making the difference we all hoped for and we thank you!
– Nancy Osmundson
“Being diagnosed with breast cancer completely blindsided me. The stress of having cancer is more than enough to deal with. And then the financial impact creeps in. Tough Enough to Wear Pink contributing toward my out of pocket expenses took an enormous amount of stress off of me. I can’t imagine what my cancer experience would have been without the community support of Tough Enough to Wear Pink.”
– Lisa Lynch
“Cancer was one of the worst things that has ever happened to me. But honestly, I could not have been in a better place than Gunnison. I could not have asked for a better support network. For better doctors. For a better program than TETWP. I am currently finishing up treatment but the worst is over. This has changed me, my perspective. But for the better. I appreciate everything so much more than I had ever imagined precancer. I know I survived this horrible thing and have so much to live for. And I know a lot of that is thanks to TETWP. They changed this whole process for me. Made it doable. TETWP was in my corner for the fight of my life. Making sure I was taken care of and not giving up. They made me realize it was ok to pause some of my life to fight. To win. That I wasn’t being lazy or a charity case. But that I was getting the help that I needed to beat this. And I did win.” Read Meagan’s story…
– Meagen Fraker
“I can honestly say that this has been the hardest thing I’ve had to endure. However, I knew I wasn’t alone in this process. TETWP came to my rescue, I had the honor of meeting Heidi and Cjay who showed up at my job and told me they would help me financially. Tears drop down my eyes as we sat there and talked, I was blessed to have met these wonderful human beings who didn’t even know me and were willing to help me out. This organization offers a lot to this community, and honestly without TETWP Gunnison patients would have to travel even more.” Read Adriana’s story…
-Adriana Villalobos