Shannon Routh

In December 2009, I was receiving chemotherapy and it was just before Christmas. I remember someone walking around handing out gifts and how sweet the gesture was.  It was all through a friend I had met, Sharon Grammer, and her organization, Fighting Cancer Inc. During the twelve days of Christmas, she created an initiative called Project Elf.  Various people/groups would volunteer for different days and pass out snacks and small gifts to anyone receiving any type of treatment during the twelve days of Christmas. In 2010, I asked how we could help and we have tried to help every year since then.  Mostly it has been me and my husband, but then friends would also want to come along and this year, the Teal Diva board even got in on the fun!

I volunteer with Project Elf every year because I know how it feels to be on the receiving end.  The holidays are tough. And a cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy radiation…it is all hard enough…now throw in the holidays too. It is an emotional roller coaster. We wish to bring a little joy and even offer hope to those who, like me, are at the hospital during the holidays.  And if you know JJ and I, you know we love to bring in a bit of fun with whatever we do, and this is no exception. There have been years when he even dressed as Elf on the Shelf!

This is an amazing project to be a part of year after year.  Thank you to everyone who makes this moment happen for so many, we are truly honored to be a part of it.

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/project-elf-spreads-cheer-those-spending-christmas-week-hospital/BA4WS5RP65BWLFNRTXXHSUICI4

Today on the Teal Diva blog we are highlighting a little behind the scenes! Teal Diva has a dedicated Board of Directors who volunteer their time to work on many different commitments that support Teal Diva and our survivor community. We sat down with Jasmine, one of our new board members to learn a little more about her and what led her to serve Teal Diva.  

---

Teal Diva: What is your connection to Teal Diva? 

Jasmine: I was first introduced to Teal Diva many years ago, through my mom, who is an ovarian cancer survivor. 

TD: Why did you decide you wanted to be a member of the Teal Diva board? 

J: I wanted to find a way to give back to my community. When Shannon made a social media post that she needed board members, it seemed like a perfect opportunity for me to serve and give back to an organization that’s personal to me. 

TD: How long have you served on the Teal Diva board? 

J: About 4 months now.

TD: What position/committees are you serving Teal Diva through? 

J: I serve as a member of the fundraising committee and whatever else is needed.

TD: What is one thing you’re looking forward to in 2025 for Teal Diva? 

J: I am most looking forward to the growth of the organization! More awareness, ongoing fundraising, and participating in a ‘Yes Girl!’ project.

TD: What is one goal you have for Teal Diva? 

J: A personal goal would be to do my part to get more minority women involved with the organization. Teal Diva is so inclusive and I would love for that to be shown outwardly in our presence. 

TD: What would you say to anyone who wants to donate to Teal Diva?

J: Just do it. We are boots on the ground, helping the women in our community. It could be your neighbor, your barista, your child’s teacher, etc. We are there to help the women who need it the most.

---

Thank you so much Jasmine, we are thrilled to have you and your talents behind Teal Diva. If you are interested in more behind the scenes, or if you feel the call to volunteer for any of our programs and positions, please connect with us!

As you could guess, we’re all a little teal-obsessed here at TEAL Diva! But as you pull out your fall decorations take a moment to think before you decorate. Do you know that a teal pumpkin has a pretty significant meaning, and it has nothing to do with ovarian cancer?

The Teal Pumpkin Project is a worldwide moment to create a safer and happier Halloween for all kids. Imagine not feeling comfortable going trick or treating because those treats could make you sick. The Teal Pumpkin Project was created by a local awareness activity run by the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee (FACET). Its main goal is to make people aware of the risks that this childhood pastime could have on a child with a mild to life-threatening food allergy. Placing teal pumpkins on your porch during trick or treating means you have non-food treats for any little ghosts or goblins to enjoy.

Some suggestions for non-food treats:
Glow Sticks
Stickers
Spider Rings
Bouncy Balls
Bubbles
Spooky Erasers
Whistles
Finger Puppets
Temporary Tattoos

We would love for you to join us in placing teal pumpkins out on our porches and have non-food treats ready on October 31 to support the Teal Pumpkin Project.

---

We’re back at it with our 4th blog in our September blog series. We’re finishing the month strong with more positives, more negatives, more advice, more connection, and more hope. If you have been encouraged by our blog series this month or if you want to find more connection with Teal Diva, please reach out – we are sisterhood waiting for you!

(email erin@tealdiva.org to get connected)

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

We know that a cancer diagnosis can bring on so many emotions. The first emotion we think of is the negative emotion, but we do try to do our best to see the good in everywhere we look. We have gathered another group of survivors to share, with you, some positive moments, some negative moments, and some advice. We hope this offers you a connection – you are not alone in this fight, we are right beside you, fighting for you and fighting with you.

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the support we’ve seen this first week of gyn and ovarian cancer awareness month! We’re back again with another group of survivors, another group of positives, negatives and bits of advice. Read, share, find community.

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Welcome to our month, the month of courage, the month of connecting, the month of sisterhood. September is both gynecologic cancer awareness month and ovarian cancer awareness month. We hope to inspire you and give you hope throughout these next 30 days. Teal Diva has collected both a positive and a negative moment, thought, memory, happening; in a post-cancer diagnosis life, and a piece of advice from our fellow survivor sisters. These are their thoughts, and will be their thoughts all month long – we’re so honored they shared them with us and now we get to share them with you. So, we invite you – open up the curtains, let the light shine in, breathe the fresh air, and know you are not alone, there is hope, there is support, and HERE is sisterhood!

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

by Christy Chambers
 

Christine Schaefer –  A Resilient, But Reluctant, Advocate

I haven’t met Christine in person. This isn’t uncommon in this post-Covid era of Zoom and social media. We spoke to each other as she commuted home after work recently. Her warm voice and willingness to share her story belie the heartbreak she has lived through. 

As we talked I was struck by her ability to embrace her life in total, “today we’re talking about the ugly parts of my life, but there are beautiful things in my life too.”  She assured me that this had not always been the case. You see Christine was sexually abused and trafficked as a child. Her experience left her with fear, shame, complex PTSD, and an understandable reluctance to keep track of her gynecological health. She became very skilled at going through life, masking her emotions; she didn’t cry or laugh. She was highly functioning but not truly living. 

She began therapy in her twenties and was committed to trying to heal her trauma. ‘But even when you are deeply involved in the healing process there is always a feeling that all your progress could be wiped out in an instant.’ She intentionally built a small life, keeping relationships beyond immediate family to a minimum. 

In 2021 she began to experience abnormal bleeding. She ignored it. It happened again. She ignored it. Then in the winter of 2021, she had an episode where she experienced such extreme blood loss that an ambulance would have been warranted but, instead Christine drove herself to the ER where she received several transfusions.

After a multitude of tests and exams, she was told she had Stage 3 Endometrial Cancer. The doctor offered her no solutions, suggested she get her affairs in order, and estimated she had approximately two years left to live. Immediately Christine began to relieve her past trauma. “I was so disconnected from myself that I didn’t cry. I called my boss and told him I wouldn’t be coming to work that day and that I had cancer. I went straight home sat down in my chair and next thing I knew seven hours had passed. I was still in my coat still sitting in my chair and staring at the wall. And then Frieda called.”

Unbeknownst to Christine her boss had contacted Frieda Weeks, the president of Hope for Heather, an ovarian cancer awareness group. He asked if she would call Christine and help connect her with support and resources. Frieda called; and she talked Christine through the next few hours, instructing her to take off her coat, to turn on the lights, to eat, etc. Most importantly Frieda offered hope.

During her active treatment, Christine avoided ‘cancer everything’ in an effort to calm her complex PTSD and prevent herself from reliving her childhood trauma. After she received her NED (no evidence of disease report) she came to a very humbling realization: she had spent her years of therapy running away from her trauma instead of embracing her life experience. She had been going through the motions of healing but hadn’t actually allowed herself to do so. She describes it as a sort of cockiness. Her experience with cancer led her to a spiritual awakening that caused her to ‘speak truth to herself.’ 

Here are a few of the actions she took on her path to reclaiming her truth:

1. She made an effort to join both in-person and online cancer support groups. Christine felt that if she could authentically share her story she may be of service to someone else. That could be through a conversation in those groups, in person, or online.

2. She went back to the physician who diagnosed her for an honest discussion. She explained that as an abuse survivor, gynecological exams are traumatizing; and that her discomfort during the process was due to her reliving her abuse. Christine explained that she knew that many doctors are trained to look for signs of sexual abuse, but few are adequately trained to deal with abuse survivors. The physician was genuinely affected by this meeting and appreciated the discussion. 

3. Today she is sharing her story PUBLICLY. She believes ‘God will place people in her path’ who will benefit from her knowledge.

Nowadays she lives her life more transparently. She is more willing to share her past because she no longer views it with fear or shame; instead, it is a testament to her resilience. She has found a way to balance the scales of her experience and the darkness she survived, to live her life in a truly authentic way. This has helped the people around her know how to love her better and in turn, she loves herself better. She believes ‘the dark moments bring us perspective and lead us to light.’ She desires to leave the world a better place and to help others ‘love themselves back to life.

To read more stories of survival head over to the Teal Diva Blog.

Looking for community, we’d love to hear from you.

There are many things that connect cancer survivors, especially gyn cancer survivors. Chemo, doctor appointments, mental hurdles, and scars. We are honored to share with you on this National Bikini Day. Two AH-mazing women share their scar stories with us and show off what it means to be on the journey of embracing a post-surgery body and proving that YOU are beautiful. We know their stories will encourage you wherever you are in your journey and we are proud to stand with these ladies in our teal sisterhood.

---

Teal Diva : Tell us a little about yourself and your scar journey.

Relonda : Hello my name is Relonda and I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer on November 5, 2013, two days before my 50th birthday. The infamous scars have been a journey of their own. Every day since my March 31, 2014 surgery, I have avoided showing my scars to anyone. Many days, I avoid looking at them and when I do look some days I cry. It’s a bittersweet reminder that I haven’t allowed anyone to see not even my husband. I kept them hidden until now. Today, I see power in my scars. Power to overcome a cancer diagnosis. Power to embrace the beauty of my scars. Power to overcome the pain endured during the fight. Power to be resilient post-cancer. Power to love myself. Power in any battle. Power in knowing I beat the hell out of Ovarian Cancer. 

Teal Diva : Was it easy to embrace your scar? 

Relonda : In transparency, it was not easy to embrace my scars. Until this project, I had not embraced my scars. It has been hard to look at although I see them every day. It’s a constant reminder that I battled cancer. When I get out of the shower, I glance at my scars and tell myself, wow, you really fought cancer. 

Teal Diva : How have you embraced your scar? 

Relonda : Since agreeing to participate in this project, I have embraced my scars. It’s been 8 years and in the last month, I see my scars in a new light. I’ve eliminated feeling sad about my scars. I see them as a reminder that I fought and beat Ovarian Cancer. My scars are a reminder that I am a Teal Testimony. This is a reminder that these battle wounds are proof of a battle won. 

Teal Diva : What would you say to other cancer survivors to encourage them to embrace their scars? 

Relonda : I would like other cancer survivors to embrace their scars early on. See them as signs of their strength, resilience, and their fight. 

Teal Diva : Does your scar encourage you in any way?

Relonda : My scars encourage me to keep thriving in my survivorship. 

Teal Diva : Any advice for being body-positive post-surgery?

Relonda : When we look at our bodies, we want the “perfect” body image defined by what society sets a standard for. But what is the “perfect” body image? There is no “perfect” body image. We have to accept our bodies and all the imperfections. Imperfections are beautiful and perfect in their own way. We have to embrace our uniqueness and speak positively about the body we were blessed to have. It’s learning to accept the beauty in our bodies. To give ourselves positive affirmations about our bodies. I do this every morning and since this project, I have begun adding affirmations about my scars. I repeat several times, “I love my scars! I embrace my scars! My scars are my superpower!!” I also say, “Imperfections are simply perfections with a twist” – Relonda 

Teal Diva : Anything else you’d like to share with our teal sisterhood? 

Relonda : Doing this project took me completely out of my comfort zone. A swimsuit photo about something I’ve avoided for 8 years. I’ve been able to look every day without getting sad. I have been able to conquer the sadness and replace it with acceptance. I now feel empowered and see the scars as a strength.

You can connect with Rolanda on her socials, give her a follow and some love for truly being a teal warrior!

Facebook: R Hancock McGhee Msw 

Instagram: Wonder.Woman.Ree

---

Teal Diva : Tell us a little about yourself and your scar journey.

Vernelia McKnight : I’m Vernelia McKnight and my ovarian cancer journey started on January 2, 2019. After three rounds of chemo and a radical hysterectomy, my scar is a constant reminder that I’m just getting started. Three years later, my survivorship made me determined to be victorious in educating and advocating for all cancer thrivers through empowerment. I serve as an advocate in two capacities: Board of Advocate for the Stephenson Cancer Center and an Advocate Leader for Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. 

Teal Diva : Was it easy to embrace your scar?

Vernelia : Absolutely not! I felt like a ripped bag of potato chips but I knew it must be done for me to survive. 

Teal Diva : How have you embraced your scar?

Vernelia : I’ve learned to accept my scar as a process of healing and recovery. A scar is something we can live with let alone cancer. 

Teal Diva : What would you say to other cancer survivors to encourage them to embrace their scars?

Vernelia : In every battle, there are wounds and scars but embrace your journey with pride and courage. 

Teal Diva : Does your scar encourage you in any way?

Vernelia : Yes my scar is a daily reminder for me to take care of myself and put me at the top of the list but most importantly appreciate life. 

Teal Diva : Any advice for being body-positive post-surgery?

Vernelia : Don’t allow society to dictate how a person should look. We are all shaped differently and made in a beautiful image that makes us unique. 

Teal Diva : Anything else you’d like to share with our teal sisterhood? 

Vernelia : My passion for sharing my cancer journey inspired me to become a vlogger that provides insightful, impactful, and intentional information to assist anyone in life. I’m passionate about building Share The Tea with V with hopes of building a community of resources and networking. 

You can connect with Vernelia on her socials

Instagram – Share the Tea with V

YouTube – Share the Tea with V

Facebook – Share the Tea with V 

As we continue our celebration of National Cancer Survivors Month and Pride Month, we wanted to bring you a blog from one of our members who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer as a young adult. Camille offers a unique perspective and wants her experience to inform others. She uses her survivorship and social media platform to advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the gynecological cancer space.

---

It was like any other Tuesday… After my last class, I was walking in the hallway with my best friend getting ready for cheerleading and gymnastics practice. Suddenly, everything was different. I felt a foreign excruciating pain in my stomach, I felt dizzy, and the next thing I knew, I went into the bathroom and threw up. This pain was unlike anything I had ever felt. I had painful periods since my very first one at the end of the fourth grade, but this pain had a mind of its own. My best friend called my mom who rushed over to me and drove me to my primary care physician. During the drive, I could not stop moving. Pain interrupted any opportunity that I had to sit still, fasten a seat belt, or take a breath without it being accompanied by a moan for help. Upon arriving at the doctor, and explaining my symptoms, my doctor pressed his boulders for hands on my stomach and quickly gave the diagnosis of a bladder infection. As my mom and I drove home, she tried to assure me in between every moan that I would be okay once the medicine that the doctor prescribed kicked in… little did she know, that she and that doctor were very wrong. I’m honestly not sure how long I waited for the medicine to work before I said to my mom, “Mommy I’ve never had a bladder infection before, but it can’t possibly be this bad. Take me to the hospital.” 

I will never forget how cold that hospital was. I will never forget how loud those monitor beeps were. I will also never forget just how arrogantly my pain laughed at the Dilaudid, Morphine, and Toradol that I was given that night. The pain that night changed my life. I received my first pelvic exam that night, and it was during that exam, I finally felt some relief. I then experienced my first ultrasound. To everyone’s surprise, tumors were found on my ovaries. The one on my right ovary was the size of a golf ball, and the one on my left ovary was the size of a grapefruit. A few days later my first surgery ever was scheduled to remove the tumors. When I woke from surgery, I learned that the left tumor had completely taken over my ovary, leaving me without a left ovary or left Fallopian tube. The tumor was kind enough to leave me a partial ovary; not too nice though. After my biopsy came back, I heard the word “cancer” for the first time in my life. While I remember my family deliberating with the doctors at this long beautiful wooden table about my plan of care, I don’t remember much of anything besides sitting at the head of the table fighting with every ounce in me to not cry in front of them. We were told that I had two kinds of tumors, a germ cell and a teratoma. It was decided that chemotherapy was the best next step. During this course of action, I would be in the hospital for one week, getting treatment daily, and out for two weeks while I could continue going to school. Stage 1 ovarian cancer. 

That was my routine for three months, chemo while hospitalized for a week, the side effects of chemo and teenage angst for two weeks. In the course of a week, I went from “Cammie the varsity cheerleader” to “Cammie the girl with the plague called cancer”. It felt like there wasn’t a person in my life that understood what I was going through. While in the hospital my doctors felt cold. Very rarely did they have a genuine conversation with me. They knew nothing about me. They didn’t know that my favorite color was teal (how ironic), or even that the most important thing in my life was cheerleading. They didn’t know that I wished so badly for my brother to be there in the hospital with me but that he was at college in another state. To sixteen-year-old me, they didn’t care. This felt so strange to me especially because I was on a pediatric oncology unit. When you see kids with cancer in movies the doctors always seemed so personable. I expected to have a Dr. Arizona Robbins, instead I had a Dr. Christina Chen (season 1).  I had visitors almost every day between my family and a few friends. The only time I was truly alone was at night when I was comforted by the hospital monitors and my barf bucket. 

I’ve been cancer-free since March 13, 2006, and while I’m grateful for that, my journey has been nothing short of uncomfortable. Remember that right partial ovary that I mentioned? I’ve had countless painful tumors and fibroids repeatedly form on it over the years; that and scar tissue. I’ve been on every form of birth control to try to treat the pain, including Lupron, where I was not only put in a medically induced menopausal state, and I was always in bed for days with migraines. Finally, in 2018 my gynecologist asked me to consider having a hysterectomy. To be honest, I hadn’t given much thought to if I wanted children or not, instead I just quietly smiled through years when people gave me their “assurance” stating, “at least you can still have kids” when they heard my story. At 28 I was asked if I wanted children for the first time, and it was so comforting to be prompted to think about it. I quickly realized that I didn’t want children, that I never wanted them, and that surgery was the best option for me to have a good quality of life. My gynecologist was amazing. She included my now spouse in all of her correspondents, she made it a point to know who my spouse was and more than just her name. She walked me through the process of what would happen surgically, how my body would change after, and kept in touch with me ongoingly, even after the scheduled surgical follow-ups. At 28, I finally felt free. I finally felt what it was like to live without pain. 

I’m 34 now. I am still cancer-free. I am still pain-free. I am still living a life of quality; the only difference is now, I’m just a little more sweaty ☺ 

“I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk five hundred more.” The Proclaimers

Want to help spread awareness about gynecological cancer, but don’t know where to start? I won’t ask you to walk five hundred miles, but if you let your fingers do the walking on your keyboard you can take a few easy steps into advocacy!

A proclamation is an official designation of an event and is a great way to educate the public about a specific issue or bring attention to a cause. Governors, county executives, mayors, state legislatures, municipalities, counties, cities or towns can issue proclamatioins. AND IT’S FREE!

Begin by contacting your local mayor or governor’s office to determine how proclamations are issued. Contact information can be found on your town’s or state’s website. When I searched for my city I found that it was actually my County Board of Comissioners that issues proclamations. Note that proclamations are not everlasting; they must be requested every year!

It is helpful to have a request letter and a copy of your proposed proclamation. The request letter is an opportunity to introduce yourself and explain why this proclamation is important to you. Here is an example:

---

name

address

city, state

www.tealdiva.org

Dear ________,

My name is __________, and I am located in _________. Personalize here with elements of your story if you wish or skip to next paragraph (below is an example of what I wrote).

“In May 2022 I was diagnosed with Stage 4b Cervical Cancer. I went from the caretaker of my family to a patient in a matter of weeks, and the mental and physical changes that my diagnosis and disease wrought changed our family dynamics tremendously. The stress of navigating my cancer, going through chemo and radiation, and discussing the very real possibility of death with family and friends led me to reevaluate my legacy. I don’t want others to have to endure what I did – especially since we now have so much in place to prevent it.”

I am contacting you on behalf of Teal Diva, a nonprofit that focuses on the mental and emotional well-being of survivors and their loved ones, spreading awareness and educating with knowledge about signs and symptoms of gynecological cancers.”

---

Most requests can be filed digitally via online forms or emails. BUT be prepared to wait once you have submitted your request; for example I submitted my request to the State of North Carolina on 10/06/2023, it was completed 01/11/2024. (I did email my contact every 3-4 weeks to request a status update.) Here’s the digital copy that was emailed to me – 

---

WHEREAS, ovarian cancer is one of the most common cancers among women, and the American Cancer Society estimates that in the United States in 2025 about 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed and there will be about 13,000 deaths from the disease; and

WHEREAS, ovarian cancer touches women of all backgrounds and ages; because of a lack of early symptoms and effective screening tests, ovarian cancer is often not detected in time for successful interventions; it is essential that women recognize the symptoms and consult with a Gynecologist if symptoms are not only present but persistent; and

WHEREAS, increased public awareness of the symptoms and risk factors of ovarian cancer will enhance chances of early detection and increase survival rates; and

WHEREAS, these women are more than a statistic: they are mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, aunts, grandmothers, friends, neighbors and co-workers; this month we commit to advocacy of ovarian cancer, we lend our support to those living with the disease and we remember the brave women who have lost their lives to ovarian cancer:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, (ENTER NAME), Mayor of (ENTER TOWN/CITY), do hereby proclaim September 2024 as

“OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH” 

in (ENTER TOWN/CITY) and commend its observance to all citizens.

WITNESS MY HAND and the official Seal of the ENTER THE WORD [CITY OR TOWN] ENTER TOWN/CITY.

ENTER NAME              

Mayor

_________________________  

---

My county was a little faster at issuing their proclamation and I was invited to speak at the meeting when it was presented.

Your story matters! Let’s work together to make every September, everywhere, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month! If you have questions about the proclamation process you can reach out to me, Christy at thelotusandtheelephant@gmail.com

Blog written by: Christy Chambers

A survivor is someone who pushes past all odds to discover the strength and power that lies within them. – Keesha Carter 

This Sunday, June 2nd, marks the 37th Annual National Cancer Survivors Day® (NCSD). “NCSD is a poignant, inspiring Celebration of Life led by the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation. It is also a call to action for further research, more resources, and increased public awareness to improve the lives of cancer survivors.”

I am an Overcomer. There was this thing meant to kill me and by the grace of God, I lived. And I was awakened to a life I wasn’t living. – Shannon Routh

As an advocate I am overjoyed that this day exists! But as a cancer survivor I would like to propose an alternate day of honor – Cancer Thrivers Day.

For me it means knowing what it truly means to treasure every second of this life! – Erin Rydell

I was composing a blog entry and wrote the phrase ‘I was given a second chance at living’. I paused and was going to correct it to ‘a second chance at life’. But then I thought, which do I mean? Are they different? I think they are. We have all been granted a life. It is generally determined by the length of time from life-death; your existence. But that doesn’t really give a full explanation of our time here on Earth does it? 

You see it’s all about the “-“. What looks like a seemingly insignificant line is your legacy. I think when we are faced with the fact that our time is limited, we begin to wonder how will we be remembered? What did we accomplish that will leave a lasting impression? Who were we? And then that leads to the big question: Who are we now?

The good news is the future isn’t written yet, we can still create a lasting legacy.

When we struggle in life it may seem like just coping is a victory. Survival mode is a natural default; there is a certain comfort in staying in that state because it’s familiar. But it’s not living, it’s merely existing. Thriving is facing your fears and moving past them; it’s choosing to be uncomfortable and growing from the experience. Thriving is not about the circumstances (oftentimes you can’t change those) but how you respond. 

My survivorship is a voyage of renewal and hope after a devastating fire. An opportunity to purge, cleanse and retool my perspective. My survivor journey is a phoenix rising from the ashes reminding me that I am resilient. – Christy Chambers

Kerri Grote, who passed from brain cancer, wrote that a shaman asked her, “Are you running towards life or running away from death?” It’s a big question, and one we don’t normally ponder. I have witnessed so many Teal Divas embrace life while facing recurrences, continuous treatment, lingering health issues and/or death. I am in awe of their strength and their faith. These warriors form an amazing sisterhood where support is gifted and received with ease. They live a daily legacy of love that will continue far into the future.

Being a survivor means I get another chance to be here a little longer with the people I love the most…my family. – Lindsay Gullate-Lee

Life’s challenges are merely opportunities in disguise. Cancer can shift your perspective if you let it. It is my hope that it sends you running full tilt towards life. A life you create as you go, fearlessly embracing every moment and gleaning every lesson you can while living your dash!

Honestly there are times that I feel guilty for being a survivor. There are so many people that have crossed my path that have fought cancer and passed. Many times I’ve asked why them and not me. Many of them held important jobs and many of them brought so much light to cancer awareness. But the truth is that we all have an end date and it’s the middle part of life that matters. As a survivor I have to try to bring light and happiness to each and every day. I’m thankful for another day with my family. I live each day trying to be at least 1% better than the day before. Each day is a gift! As a survivor of cancer it reminds me each day that I can face the worst and come out the other side. Phoenix rising from the ashes uplifting others still going through it. Being a survivor is a blessing and a privilege that I’m grateful for. – Amanda Halsey

Being a survivor is knowing I am LIVING with the challenges and keeping a positive mindset, rather than thinking I am dying from this disease. It taught me to LIVE and be grateful, which changed me as a person.🩵🩵🩵 – Kim Huddleston 

Loving, enjoying & being there for my family, by the Grace of God. – Cynthia Goodman 

Being a survivor for me is about taking one day at a time and making that daily choice to do what I need to do for my physical health, my mental health and all of the other. 🩵🤍 – Jane Fitch

We are Teal Divas. We are survivors. We are THRIVERS!

This year’s Teal Diva 5K was like none other, truly!  It was our 10th annual Charlotte 5k and we were all amping up to celebrate like we had never before.  Something happened this year that has never happened before, rain.  In years past the forecast would call for rain the day of our annual 5K and by the time the day came, no rain.  Or it would rain, take a break for us to hold our event, load the truck, and drive away, and then the rain would start again.  Never in 10 years have we had a downpour like the one we all experienced the first weekend in May.  

We thought that it might pass us over, or hold off until after the 5K was done, we really really hoped!  And it all looked good, setting up – great, welcoming in our survivors, walkers, and runners – awesome, our opening ceremony – fantastic!  Lining up at the starting line a few drops fell – no problem.  Then the countdown to the start of the race, and the downpour.  We weren’t 30 seconds into the starting gun and the rain fell, heavier and heavier, and heavier.

In that moment, there was a little internal panic, would it get worse (how could it possibly get worse), what if it started to lightning, what if people got upset, what if people left, we are here to celebrate, honor and remember, what if the rain stops us from doing that??  Then I looked around, and runners were still running, walkers were still walking, the Teal-gating area was a buzz with people running from tent to tent, laughing and smiling.  

I walked over to the finish line to help hand out water (ha!  Handing out water in the middle of a downpour) and runners were starting to finish, volunteers were cheering louder than ever for everyone who came past them, survivors were hand in hand with friends with the biggest smiles on their faces, everyone just laughing.  

As I look back at that weekend and our 10th annual Charlotte Teal Diva 5k, I’m reminded that life and the things that happen in it are unexpected.  Things might (and probably won’t) go the way we had planned.  We have two choices, we can show up with smiles on our faces, hand in hand with the people we love embracing the unexpected moments, or we can show up disappointed and and focused on all the things that are wrong.  The impact of showing up with a positive attitude goes beyond the moment, it carries into the next moment, and the next, and your neighbor, and their moments.  We all have to show up, I want to show up with a smile on my face, looking for the good, the beauty, the connections, even in a downpour.

This event wouldn’t be the same without all of our survivors, families, friends, teams, volunteers, and sponsors. From the bottom of our teal hearts, THANK YOU!

Teal Diva 5K Charlotte 2024 Sponsors: GSK, Novant Health, Arauco, Atrium Health Lavine Cancer, Blanton Miller and Moore DDS, Eisai, Simply Southern Collection, Whitlock, Carolina’s Natural Health Center, Queen City Event Management & Consulting, Aspire Women’s Health, By Winona, Carolina’s Bio Oncology, GenMab, Hendrick Mini, Illume Boutique, and Myclex.

---

Were you a participant or volunteer in our 2024 5K? We are always trying to do better each year, and we’d love your feedback.

Did you know May is Mental Health Awareness Month?  This is a time dedicated to raising awareness about mental health issues, reducing the stigma surrounding them, and promoting the importance of mental well-being. This month serves as a reminder that mental health is just as vital as physical health. Today on the Teal Diva blog we explore ways to foster mental wellness, and together, we can create a more understanding and supportive community for us all.

• Keep your mind in a positive space
  • Keeping a positive mindset can change the way you view your situation and your outlook.  Sometimes it’s not easy, but it is important.
• Spending time outside
  • Spending time outside is one easy way to help manage stress, and set your mind to look at the beauty found in nature, and it’s scientifically proven!  Spending time outdoors can change our neurochemistry by releasing serotonin!  Fresh air increased oxygen levels in our brains, and sunlight synthesizes vitamin D which is essential for good mental health.
• Attend a Support Group
  • Being a part of a group of people who understand fully what you’re going through is priceless.  We encourage you to join in on some of the survivor meetups and support groups that Teal Diva offers!

• Spending time with your four-legged frien
  • Who knew all of our four-legged friends could help our mental state?  Spending time with a pet helps to promote physical activity, providing companionship, and boost your self confidence.  Just the act of caring for a pet increases the release of endorphins that promote relaxation and empathy.
• Meditation
  • Taking time to sit quietly, and pay attention to your breath helps to stay in the present moment, anchoring yourself to intention and purpose. It’s been proven that consistent meditation can lower stress, raise connectivity, improve focus and reduce brain chatter.  There are many many apps and programs that can help you get started, we recommend Insight Timer App (it has the worlds largest FREE library of guided meditations)
• Getting Creative
  • Taking time to dive into creative projects like journaling, coloring, collaging, zentangle can increase positive emotions and reduce feelings of anxiety.  Tapping into the right side (the creative side) of your brain and letting the left side (the more analytical side) take a back seat.  It helps us let go of negative thoughts and feelings.
• Playing/Listening to Music
  • Do you have that one song that comes on and instantly puts you in a good mood?  Yeah, me too!  Listening to music can transport us.  But there’s also science behind it!  Research suggests that music 60 beats per minute can cause the brain to synchronize with the beat leading to alpha brainwaves which are associated with relaxation! 

• Massage Therapy
  • “Massage therapy has been noted to relax the nervous system by slowing heart rate and blood pressure. Stress and pain hormones are also decreased by massage, reducing pain and enhancing immune function,” says Dr. Tiffany Field, who heads a touch research institute at the University of Miami Medical School
• Exercising
  • Getting up and getting moving is a great way to reduce stress and negative feelings and help lift your mood and improve your fitness.  Exercise causes your brain to release the ‘happy’ chemicals called endorphins and serotonin, which help to stabilize your mood and alleviate pain and lower stress!  Plus there are tons of ways to exercise, walking, running, yoga, pilates, weight lifting, biking, stretching, hiking, you can exercise alone, with a buddy, or with a group!
• Rest
  • Rest when you need rest, I’ll say it again – rest when you need rest! Guilt Free! Resting is not a sign of weakness, resting is just as important a physical activity. It’s a time when your body repairs and renews itself!
• Limiting time in front of screens & social media
  • Need we say more? Extended time on screens and on social media is helping no one and their mental health.
• Medication & Therapy
  • All of the above options are great and could have positive outcomes when you add them into your weekly routine.   But sometimes they aren’t enough.  Sometimes talking to a therapist and getting some assistance from medication is a necessary and effective avenue.  Just as we wouldn’t hesitate to seek medical treatment for a physical ailment, addressing our mental health with professional help is equally vital. Medication can provide the necessary balance for many, while therapy offers a safe space to explore thoughts and feelings, fostering personal growth and resilience. Embracing these resources is a powerful act of self-care and a positive move towards a healthier, happier life.

---

Resources:

Zentangle for beginners:

https://www.youtube.com/@KelliBlouin

Free Coloring Pages:

https://www.johannabasford.com/small-victories-free-download/

Meditation

Insite Timer App

---

Resources for Information Shared:

Old Dominion University

News in Health

MentalHealth.org

“Hey y’all (in Kiyania’s southern dialect) and Yoooo (in Donald’s New York dialect) 

We are Donald and Kiyania Brown, and we are on a journey to parenthood filled with both heartache and hope. Our story is one of resilience, love, and the incredible power of community.”

Many people dream of becoming parents. But what if your ability to conceive and/or carry children is taken away by gynecological cancer? What if the efforts to prolong your life impact your ability to bring new life into the world? 

Although Kiyania was from a large family she didn’t have dreams of being a mom. She was young, dating, and very much enjoyed sleeping in late, or traveling spontaneously! 

Then in 2015 she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and had surgery to remove one ovary. Suddenly she was faced with the possibility that she might never have children. She and DJ (Donald) were college sweethearts, early in their relationship. They were not engaged or married, and they were having to discuss whether they wanted to pursue fertility preservation! Her doctor shared the pros and cons, as well as the possibility that cancer could return and decrease her ability to conceive. They held off on a decision for about two years and then, in 2018, when she was 28, they harvested and froze 14 good, healthy eggs. 

In 2019 Kiyania had a recurrence and more surgery. 

In 2020, months before their wedding the cancer returned.

“May 30, 2021, I was set to marry the man of my dreams and start my life as Mrs. Don Brown! But, five months before the biggest day of my life, I heard the words that I NEVER wanted to hear again, “The cancer has possibly returned”. On top of all the emotions that come with planning a wedding, I also had to deal with the possibility of cancer being present in my body. It was not much longer that doctors confirmed my greatest fear.”

On Oct 18, 2020, I had an extensive 8-hour surgery where they removed cancer from my upper abdomen, abdominal wall, and the surface of my liver. In the process of this, my spleen and uterus were removed to prevent the possibility of cancers later surfacing in those areas. When they took my uterus, they also took the chance of me carrying our future babies. With this new reality, we painfully started discussing the possibility of surrogacy.”

During her cancer journey, she created her Facebook page, TEAL Sista, as a way to document her battle. Her experiences made her aware of the disparities that women of color face in our healthcare system. TEAL Sista became a place to document her journey, share her unwavering faith, and inform and teach others how to navigate and advocate their way through cancer, and now infertility and surrogacy.

DJ has always been by her side supporting her. 

He was an only child for almost 9 years before his sibling came along. He says he doesn’t want his child to grow up alone and would love ultimately to have two kids. They received word in March that they could begin the process of thawing and fertilizing their eggs. They have registered with an agency that will help them through all the contracts and legal procedures necessary for surrogacy. Their families are incredibly supportive and cannot wait to welcome a new baby (#babybrown2025). 

Currently, they are fundraising and hope to begin interviewing surrogates soon. 

Kiyania advises everyone on the surrogacy journey to “be prepared, do your research, and have patience.” She believes it will take a village to not only raise a child but also to conceive one. “Have a village because our village is really helping us emotionally, It’s very overwhelming to know that you can’t carry your child. Then there’s the financial burden too. So be patient and be encouraged that you’re not alone in the journey. Together, we can turn dreams into reality and bring new life into the world.”

Check out Kiyania’s Facebook group: Teal Sista

The Brown’s fundraising page:

April 21-27, 2024 is National Infertility Awareness Week

March is Surrogacy Awareness Month