As we are a week away from Giving Tuesday 2023, we wanted to share with you some of the testimonials that have been shared with us by recipients of our Yes Girl home projects help. This year for Giving Tuesday we are asking you to support Teal Diva, so we can continue to make a difference in GYN cancer survivors lives.

We at Teal Diva know all too well that cancer is an interruption to your world. Bills still need to be paid and household chores still need to get done. We would like to introduce you to Yes Girl!: a community service project/small grant program offered by Teal Diva in the Carolinas.

When we say yes, she wins! We say yes so, she can fight, so she can rest, so she can release these small burdens and doesn’t have to fight alone.

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I just wanted to give a quick shout out to the Yes Girl program ran by Teal Diva volunteers. Part of my deck was redone with the help of some wonderful people. I don’t have a lot of time being a widowed dad of two and I was able to put a few fish in the boat on the weekend this was done for me. -T. Zielinksi

I am immensely grateful to Teal Diva and the “Yes Girl “volunteers for the work that they did in and around my home. My husband and I have been so consumed by my cancer and treatment over the past three years, that many household projects have fallen by the wayside. I looked at my surroundings and felt severe anxiety over all of the work that had to be done, It was overwhelming. By completing these projects, the “Yes Girl “volunteers have given me a sense of serenity. I no longer feel anxious when I look around my home, I only feel joy, gratitude and love. I am truly humbled, I had no idea that so many others cared. I only hope that someday I am well enough to pay it forward and help someone else the way these wonderful people have helped me. Thank you to everyone who worked on the project, raised funds or contributed money. Most of all, thank Shannon for making it happen. – J. Trull

Thank you for the house cleaning. They did such a fantastic job and I can’t tell you how good it made me feel to have my entire house all clean at one time! – S. Spratt

I was so very fortunate to have Teal Diva trim the bushes around my house. They did a phenomenal job. I have already received so many compliments! Teal Diva is truly an exceptional organization! Everyone worked so hard and they were so professional. Also they were such a fun and motivating group. To help those in need and to do so with such grace and willingness is truly a blessing from God. Thank you, Teal Diva! You are truly exceptional! – D. Byrd

I was diagnosed with cancer two years ago. I want to thank Teal Diva for brightening up my life. My house needed a facelift so bad and thanks to Teal Diva, my prayers were answered. God bless you all! – N. Palmer

I love the work you all have done. You all are a blessing from God and I hope all the other people you do work for love the work you do for them. Debra.

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We would love to have you at our Giving Tuesday event November 28, 2023 at NoDa Brewing Company! We are taking over the tap, all drinks bought that night will benefit Teal Diva and the Yes Girl program. Also, we have a HUGE raffle going on, you can support Teal Diva by purchasing tickets below!

We asked some of our Yes Girl volunteers to share why they choose to give their time and energy to Teal Diva’s Yes Girl program.

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It has been an absolute privilege to volunteer for Yes Girl, offering not only a sense of purpose but also a unique opportunity to support women and their families battling gynecological cancer. Working closely with survivors and their families has been both humbling and inspiring. Their stories of courage, resilience, faith, and determination in the face of cancer have left an indelible impression on me.

The camaraderie that develops among volunteers not only enhances the overall experience but also underscores the significance of our collective commitment. Saying yes means she can focus on fighting, resting, and serves as a poignant reminder that she never fights alone!

Through Yes Girl, I’ve forged personal connections with survivors, and the impact of volunteering with Teal Diva is palpable. It serves as a reminder that every effort, regardless of size, contributes to bringing a smile and hope to those affected by this formidable disease. The work we do with Yes Girl transcends individual contributions, forming a mosaic of support and compassion that resonates with the shared goal of connecting and assisting those facing gynecological cancer. -B. McClellan, Yes Girl Volunteer

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For me Yes Girl helped me with a project that I just had no time to get to as being a single widow of two. A 4.5-year battle with Ovarian cancer drained me physically emotionally, and well initially financially. The Teal Diva team and volunteers took the burden off of something that I could have hired someone to do but it was a huge help. Having young children when she was diagnosed was difficult and then the emotional scars that are left behind when she passed. As far as giving back, I wanted to pay it forward to the other survivors and Teal Diva. I wanted to teach my kids how rewarding it is to give back and a little manual labor never hurt anyone. It was a pleasure helping a local CM school teacher originally from Ohio. She was so grateful and the smiles on her face that day were priceless. I know many of these stories don’t end well as the nature of this disease is not kind. However that day she had one less thing to worry about and could relax. I encourage anyone who is willing to help with simple projects or who has a specialized skill or handy to give a Saturday up and come help. Or it could be as simple as lending tools or giving off supplies to complete one of these projects. Financial donations will be put to good use, this is such a great organization and program. T. Zielinski, Yes Girl Volunteer and Recipient

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The good feeling you get when you help someone who truly needs it. The hope that maybe one day I may need help and someone will step up and help. Hanging out with a good group of friends for a good cause. Seeing the before and after pictures, knowing you had a hand in making it better. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the ones you are helping.

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If you’re interested in our Yes Girl program please visit www.tealdiva.org for more info! We would love to have you at our Giving Tuesday event November 28, 2023 at NoDa Brewing Company! We are taking over the tap, all drinks bought that night will benefit Teal Diva and the Yes Girl program. Also, we have a HUGE raffle going on, you can support Teal Diva by purchasing tickets below!

Yes Girl is one way that Teal Diva supports women who have been diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer. When someone hears of their cancer diagnosis their world stops, but the responsibilities of life don’t. This is where Teal Diva and our Yes Girl program step in. Yes Girl!: a community service project/small grant program offered by Teal Diva in the Carolinas. We can’t take all the stress away, but we can lighten the load. Yes Girl has two options for our survivor recipients: household projects, lawn care, and small repairs or assistance with mortgages, utilities, or groceries. We also have the option to help with transportation to and from treatment.

How to apply :

This is currently available in Charlotte, North Carolina, and surrounding areas as well as Summerville, South Carolina, and surrounding areas.

Please contact your nurse navigator or social worker for an application. The approval process for a Yes Girl application may take 30-60 days.

How to help :

When we say yes, she wins! We say yes so, she can fight, so she can rest, so she can release these small burdens and doesn’t have to fight alone.

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If you’re interested in our Yes Girl program please visit www.tealdiva.org for more info! We would love to have you at our Giving Tuesday event November 28, 2023 at NoDa Brewing Company! We are taking over the tap, all drinks bought that night will benefit Teal Diva and the Yes Girl program. Also, we have a HUGE raffle going on, you can support Teal Diva by purchasing tickets below!

Today, we hear from small business owner Brenda. She co-owns, with her daughter, an online shop called Generations by MB. They reached out to Teal Diva wanting to help our Yes Girl program.

It’s not only the sponsorships from large companies that help a non-profit like Teal Diva make a difference. It’s also the small, locally owned shops that make a difference. Generations by MB design and create unique Bucket Has and Beanie Hats, both with protective lining along with coordinating Bucket Bags and Drawstring Bags. A portion of all sales will go back to Teal Diva and the Yes Girl program.

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Teal Diva : Can you tell me why you want to donate to Teal Diva’s Yes Girl program?

Generations by MB : We wanted to donate to this cause because the funds are used in a way that has a direct and immediate impact on those locally who are in need. Oftentimes, we forget that cancer treatment can cause other hardships in the lives of not only the patient but their families as well, we found that Yes Girl addressed those other hardships. We don’t have thousands to donate but hopefully, we can help this initiative by not only making monetary contributions but also helping bring awareness. I was surprised to learn that there are a variety of cancer colors associated with the various cancers (ie..Blue-Prostate; Green-Liver; Gray-Brain; Purple-GYN & Pancreatic; and many more). Most people are very familiar with the pink ribbon being associated with Breast Cancer, but few are aware of the other ribbons with the associated colors, so “Yes Girl” will have our support for the Teal color items.

TD : How did you hear out about Teal Diva and our Yes Girl program?

GMB : I heard about Teal Diva and your “Yes Girl” program by just doing some internet research. We were searching for cancer awareness initiatives, as previously mentioned, most people are aware of pink and Breast Cancer in October but we wanted to see what other initiatives we could support.

TD : How long have you been making things?

GMB : I’ve been sewing for a long time(let’s say, way back when people used a phone book to look up a number). My mother and I would use sewing as our time together when we would bond, laugh, and share. Unfortunately, she passed from metastatic colon cancer, but I have carried that legacy on with my daughter. We use sewing as our time to bond, laugh, and share. In our sewing hats and bags people would ask how much we sold them for, and the business was born.

TD : How long have Generations by MB been in business?

GMB : The business was officially established in July of this year.

TD : How did you come up with the name Generations MB?

GMB : Myself and my daughter are directly involved in the business. We currently have four categories in our online store, my adult grandchild and teen grandchild are involved in those categories. So we have three generations all working together.

TD : Anything else you’d like to share with our Teal Diva community?

GMB : We are excited to see how your community receives our items and we hope that our support will make a difference and serve as an example for other small businesses. As a small business, we do not have huge contributions but we try to do good in our work so that we may have something to share with someone in need.

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Thank you Brenda and the entire Generations by MB team for reaching out to Teal Diva and your support! You can shop the entire Generations collection by clicking the link below!

Our 2023 Lowcountry 5K was full of sisterhood! There were 715 participants, which included 38 teams that took over Hutchinson Square the last Saturday of September. We introduced the Lowcountry to our Mile for Her, one mile of our course dedicated to the women who have been affected by a gynecologic cancer diagnosis. It was a beautiful morning of time of coming together to celebrate, connect, and remember.

We had some fantastic teams really show up for the race this year!

Top Fundraisers

Sisi’s Soldiers $12, 300

Pattie’s Angels $6, 345

Rainbows for Rebecca $3,050

Dream Team CCOGO $2,599

Karla’s Kancer Crushers $1,900

4 Claire! $1,370

Top 10 Participant Teams

Off Our Rockers – 52

Trident Health – 45

Team Britzilla – 38

Gynomite – 36

Team Gigi – 33

4 Claire! – 25

Karla’s Kancer Krushers – 25

Sherwood Strong – 23

Erin’s Ovary Achievers – 19

Best Tent Decoration

Off Our Rockers

Want to see more pictures from the event? Head over to the Teal Diva Facebook page!

Shopping is great right, especially when you’re shopping to support what you love! You can shop your favorite Pampered Chef products and support Teal Diva from now until the end of August! When Debbie heard about Teal Diva she instantly thought of her friend Theresa, and wanted to set up this fundraiser to do what she could to help Teal Diva’s mission.

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I met Theresa in 1984 when we worked together in the same factory. It was an immediate friendship that has lasted for 39 years so far. About two years after giving birth to her 3rd child, around 1990, she was diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer. She was told had it been discovered any later, it would have been “too late.” She had the necessary surgery to remove it. She survived and went on to become a wonderful foster parent to numerous children over the next several years. She specialized in failure to thrive children and actually adopted three of them. She became a trainer in the ASK program through the University of Kentucky. ASK is an award-winning program that has been serving foster and adoptive parents for nearly two decades through adept peer-led support groups and training initiatives. ASK utilizes seasoned facilitators and trainers who have lived experiences with fostering and adopting. She now teaches for the University of Kentucky in the same field.

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To shop and support Teal Diva follow the link below. Teal Diva will receive 20% back on orders $200-$649, and 30% for orders $650 and up. If you book a future party or fundraiser for yourself Teal Diva will earn an additional $3.00. Thank you to Debbie for setting this up!

While scientists and experts continue to work towards an effective ovarian cancer screening test to improve outcomes for patients, this study suggests that removing the fallopian tube may lead to a reduction in ovarian cancer incidence. This is because 65% of the most common form of high-grade serous ovarian cancer appears to originate from the fallopian tube, where it progresses from lesions to cancer.

It’s important to take precautions post-surgery to make sure you can recover well and prevent any complications. In this post, we’ll look at essential tips to help you recover at home after ovarian cancer surgery:

Prioritize healthy nutrition

It’s important to nourish yourself post-surgery to fuel your healthy recovery. Read here to be aware of some of the common side effects that may hinder your eating ability post-treatment, including constipation, diarrhea, nausea, changes in taste, and appetite, and fatigue. If that’s the case, adjusting your diet is important. Small portions of well-cooked vegetables and fresh or canned fruits can help alleviate diarrhea symptoms, while fiber-rich foods like bran, broccoli, and carrots can help relieve constipation.nnIt’s okay to eat your favorite go-to foods and not force any particular foods, as the goal is to get enough nourishment through the most comfortable and tolerable foods. Of course, for other nutrition concerns, you should consult your healthcare professional for medical or dietary advice post-surgery.

Avoid standing up for too long

Remember that recovery requires physical rest on your part. This means you shouldn’t be too physically active, and you shouldn’t be standing up for long periods. In fact, you should be resting with your feet up most of the time. The healthiest way to do this is to invest in ergonomic furniture. To ensure your comfort while sitting for long periods, this article lists the best ergonomic chairs that prioritize your comfort. Some ergonomic chairs also have a tilt mechanism to pivot your body naturally into comfortable sitting positions.nnThe lumbar support on ergonomic chairs can help alleviate any back, neck, and leg pain while seated so that you won’t feel discomfort. The tilt mechanisms also allow you to set your recline range to accommodate upright sitting, mid-recline, and full recline. Some models will also have a built-in footrest that pulls out from underneath the seat to keep your legs up while resting or reclining.

Start with light exercises

At the same time, it’s also important to work light exercises into your post-surgery routine so that your body stays active. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should pick up grueling workout regimens. This research looking at a supervised exercise program for women after ovarian cancer surgery found that women were able to lose body weight and fat mass by more than 5% post-surgery.nnThere’s also evidence that exercising could boost parts of the immune system linked to fighting the survival and spread of tumors. Do keep in mind that the study focuses on light exercises, such as walking and light jogging. Doctors warn against heavier exercises targeting abdominal muscles while recovering from surgery. Instead, aim to start back slowly into an exercise routine to help your body heal.

Allow emotional recovery

Finally, you should focus on giving yourself the time and space to recover emotionally. Click here to read our article on being a survivor and how it is important to prioritize feeling positive in order to live a meaningful lifestyle. Dealing with cancer can be difficult, and recovering after treatment can still challenge you to cope well with potential side effects. It’s normal to slip into the occasional sad moments but remember to take it one step at a time and embrace seeking support from friends, loved ones, or a community of fellow survivors — whether online or locally.nnHealing and recovering after your surgery may be a primarily physical experience, but remember to take care of yourself emotionally and mentally as well. Just as you would take care of your body post-surgery by staying well-nourished and avoiding fatigue, you should also do what you can to manage your thoughts and emotions in your healing process healthily. Don’t be afraid to seek professional advice besides your support system.

Article written by: Jenifer Rutherford

Exclusively for tealdiva.org

Today we have a special story from two sisters who are honoring their mom after loosing her to ovarian cancer 15 years ago. Read their story below, and show them some Teal Diva love! Thank you Melissa & Rebecca for sharing your story!

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We are Melissa and Rebecca Carle from Galloway, NJ, and Baltimore, MD. We lost our mother to ovarian cancer when Melissa was just 15 years old and Rebecca was 17; April 11, 2024 marks 15 years that she will have been gone. So to honor her, we are going to be participating in 15 5Ks across the country between now and April of next year. Although we may not be able to attend all of them in person, we would like to support a variety of organizations, and we’re excited that yours is one of them! We will be (virtually) participating in the Teal Diva 5K on May 6 as Team Donna.

Our goal is to raise $15,000 throughout these events ($1,000 per race), for the 15 years she will be gone. We have a website where we will be tracking our progress with our fundraising pages linked as well. We are going to be calling on our friends and family to support us along the way, either by joining the races with us, or donating (or both)!

When our mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer she was only 42 (back in 2007). We had no idea what ovarian cancer was until this experience; there was no family history or anything like that. Our parents learned more and kept a lot of it to themselves at the time because we were so young and they didn’t want to scare us (we also have a younger brother). With that knowledge, they decided to get her tested for the BRCA gene mutations, which would help us in the future to know our risk of developing this disease ourselves. It turns out she had inherited the BRCA1 gene mutation from her father, which not many people realize could be passed down from a male. She was the type of person who always put everyone else, especially her children, before herself, so it was hard for her to take a step back when she was sick. She always enjoyed coming to all of our sporting events, class trips, etc. because she was such an involved mom. She fought this disease for about two years and passed away just 4 days before her 45th birthday. Her legacy still lives on through her three kids and we still hear so many amazing stories about her until this day. She was taken way too soon and we had to get through pretty crucial parts of our lives without her. We’re doing this not only to raise awareness and help fund research for this disease to try and help other families but also to ensure she lives on because she was too good to be forgotten.

Here is our current race schedule:

1: 4/22/23 – Philadelphia, PA – Sandy Sprint ✓

2: 5/6/23 – Charlotte, NC (Virtual) – Teal Diva 5K

3: 5/13/23 – Birmingham, AL (Virtual) – 20th Annual Motherwalk

4: 5/20/23 – Minoa, NY (Virtual) – Teal Ribbon Run/Walk

5: 6/3/23 – Wauwatosa, WI (Virtual)- Ray of Hope Run

6: 6/10/23 – Denver, CO – Jodi’s Race for Awareness

7: 7/4/23 – Marcellus, NY (Virtual) – Teal There’s A Cure 5K

8: 7/22/23 – Sea Isle City, NJ – Sandy Sprint

9: 8/5/23 – Cleveland, OH – OutRun Ovarian Cancer

10: TBD

11: TBD

12: TBD

13: TBD

14: TBD

15: TBD

With that being said, we’re always looking for opportunities to get the word out and make new connections through the ovarian cancer community. Unfortunately, we found out our mom carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, and Rebecca was tested and also has it, so we are very much still affected by the disease today through both the loss and the genetics. Please feel free to follow our journey either by signing up for updates through the website or Melissa’s public Instagram page @simplymisunderstoodxo.

We are excited to try and shed a light on ovarian cancer, as we did not know anything about it until our mom was diagnosed, as well as keep her alive in spirit no matter how long it’s been. #TEALTheresAcure

We have a few more days in the ‘month of love’, and we want to dive into love for one’s self and health. As women, we know that usually, we take care of everyone else in our lives before we think about taking care of ourselves and our health. Did you know that February is national heart month? When was the last time you took inventory of your heart and cardiovascular health? Have you ever thought about your heart and cardiovascular health? Most people think that heart disease and heart attacks are something that only happens to older white men, but that is so far from the truth. Heart disease is the number 1 killer of women and less than 50% of women know the signs and symptoms. Black and Hispanic women are less likely than white women to be aware of heart attack symptoms, according to the National Institutes of Health. One of the things that we say over and over and over here at Teal Diva is “advocate for your health” and “you are your best advocate”, well the same is true for your cardiovascular health. Did you also know that symptoms of a heart attack in women are different than those of men?

Symptoms for a heart attack in women:

• Shortness of breath
• Pressure or pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen
• Dizziness
• Upper back pressure
• Extreme fatigue

Knowing your family history is also important. Heart disease can be passed down from generation to generation so knowing your family’s health history is something that you need to talk to your doctor about. Even though we can’t change our genes, we can do things daily that help.

• Don’t smoke.
• Keeping track of your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels
• Eat healthily
• Get up and move more

Remember we LOVE you, but more importantly, we want YOU to love YOU! Make time to take care of yourself, sign up for that exercise class, try that new recipe, and talk with your doctor if you have any concerns.

*health information was gathered from American Heart Association and the CDC