Feb. 11 Testimony to House Appropriations on CPRIT Funding

The following is a transcript of Dorothy Gibbons' testimony before the House Appropriations Committee as they look at the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas:

Thank you for the opportunity to testify on behalf of The Rose, a Houston based breast cancer organization.  I am Dorothy Weston Gibbons, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of The Rose.  We are in the business of saving lives, serving over 30,000 women each year with 9,600 uninsured. Since 1986 our work has meant access to treatment for thousands of uninsured women.

In our world, the quiet ones often get lost.   While headlines are screaming about alleged improprieties within three grants, the recipients of the prevention dollars dispensed by Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas are easy to overlook. These are working women, often holding down two jobs yet they still earn less than the 200% poverty rate.  They juggle so many demands, that their personal health needs comes last. I see these quiet women who work long and hard and still don’t have enough for insurance or even the cash price of a mammogram.  They are used to being lost in the shuffle.

But they aren't lost or overlooked at The Rose. We hear their stories.  When I co-founded The Rose we didn’t have October breast cancer months and pink ribbons adorning everything from t-shirts to perfume.  I would like to think after 27 years, the situation might have changed for the uninsured, but it hasn’t.  Women die because of lack of money and access.

As a voice for so many, I must say that in the midst of the uncertainties, these are the things I KNOW to be certain:  

-          Because of CPRIT funds, a total of 4,345 women received care since our first award in March of 2010. (2,739 in the first cycle and 1,606 were in the 3 quarters of this year.)

-          I know that of those 124 cancers that were diagnosed, 43 were first time mammograms and more than half were diagnosed at stage 2 or below. That’s good news in the breast cancer world.

-          I know that 56 of the 124, over 45%, of those cancers were found in women who were under fifty years old.

-          I am certain that without CPRIT, not one of those women would have found care.

-          I know that those women we diagnosed came from throughout Southeast Texas:

§  88 of those diagnosed women live in Harris County

§  7 were from Brazoria County

§  8 were from Fort Bend County

§  8 from Galveston County

§  1 from Liberty, our most difficult case

§  2 from Matagorda County

§  7 from Montgomery county

§  2 from Waller County

§  1 from Wharton County 

-          I know the names of the women who did not have the money for gas or parking at the Medical Center who were able to get to their treatment because of CPRIT transportation funding.

-          I know that CPRIT made it possible for The Rose to serve to rural Texas and now our mobile vans have sites in 24 counties from Matagorda, up through Burleson, across Brazos to San Jacinto and up through San Augustine to Shelby.

-          I know that if CPRIT funds are cut, over 4,000 women in the next two years will not be served.

While CPRIT doesn’t cover treatment, it provided FIVE TIMES as many woman preventive services in that first year than BCCS did. Imagine the impact it is making. When it comes to state supported programs BCCS and CPRIT are all we have—yet it still reached only one fourth of the total uninsured women who turn to us each year. Without those funds, they would not have been served.

I share in the concern, no the outrage, that even one dollar of funding was not used appropriately.  I am thankful for the wisdom and determination in fixing what is wrong with CPRIT. 

Because I know what CPRIT has meant to the women of Texas and as the voice for so many voiceless women, I implore you:  We cannot afford a delay in prevention dollars … not when lives are at stake.

Maria*.  was only 38 years old when she first found the lump in her breasts but with no insurance she waited.  She was among the first women we diagnosed in February 2010 with CPRIT funding her mammogram and diagnostic work-up.  A single mother of three, she was alone when we told that her she had cancer and she tried everything to keep it from her family.  Her twin daughters were turning 15, their quinceanera was planned for May and she didn’t want anything to ruin their celebration.  Yet when her 17 year old son, now man of the house, inadvertently discovered what was happening, he insisted that his mother move forward with treatment.  She had the most beautiful head of hair and losing her breast was hard enough but facing her daughters big day bald headed was just too much.  First we got her into treatment through MBCCS, then we fitted her in a perfect new wig and prosthesis.  She never stopped being beautiful to her children, but she looked especially radiant that day in May.  She will share many events in the future with her children.

There are so many Marias, and Anitas and Janes waiting for service.  It is for them that I ask for your serious consideration in the continued full funding of CPRIT.

*Name changed for privacy purposes.

Best and Worst of Times -- Ringing in a New Year at The Rose

The Rose has been living the “best of times” and the “worst of times.” For that we owe you – our patients and supporters –a thank you and a sincere apology.

Over the past several months, our ancient phone system and limited staff combined with an increase in calls meant reaching us was often difficult. The increase in the number of calls to The Rose is a good thing. Every day more and more women are discovering The Rose’s high level of quality care. And, every insured woman understands that her paid mammogram helps us care for someone without insurance.

But if you or your physician calls and has to hold for very long, that’s a bad thing.

We’re facing two problems -- an ancient, well-used telephone system (actually it’s only 8 years old but in the communications world that’s getting close to ancient) that simply cannot keep up with the higher volume AND a need for more employees to answer and direct those calls.

Believe me, a new telephone system and adequate staff are funding priorities for 2013. Your help or funding suggestions toward reaching that goal are very much appreciated. Our short-term answers – we’ve improved software and we’re making shifts in personnel – are helping. In the meantime, our commitment to our patients compelled us to find ways to remind those who were more than 16 months “late” in scheduling their annual mammogram that it was time to take care of YOU.

I can’t tell you how many women have said they appreciated that extra reminder. For at least two women our call may have translated into a chance for longer survival. Fortunately the cancers we discovered fell into the “early stage” of diagnosis. One woman told me, “Who knows how long I would have waited? Thank goodness The Rose kept at me.”

Every woman deserves The Rose and the quality breast health care we provide. So we promise – with your continued support -- to “keep at it” in whatever way is needed.

Thank you for your patience and support.

 

-- Dorothy Gibbons, CEO and Co-Founder, The Rose

Visit to The Rose Prompts Devotional

Lynnette Ross, pastor of Cathedral of Hope, Houston, wrote the following devotional after a visit to The Rose. We thank Rev. Ross for her permission to share ...

Scripture
“And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds” Hebrews 10:24

A Word of Hope
It is the time of year for me when I have what is called my ‘well woman’ physical. A mammogram is one of the components of that physical and for years I had the procedure done at the same place because it was familiar and I came to trust them over time. Several years ago a friend of mine asked me to consider switching providers and to begin having my mammogram done at The Rose, a non-profit breast cancer organization providing mammography screening, diagnosis, access to treatment and support to all women regardless of their ability to pay. As a woman who is blessed to have health insurance, by having my insured mammogram done there I help The Rose provide care to women who do not have insurance or the ability to pay. So yesterday I had my mammogram done at The Rose as I did last year.

It would have been easier for me to write them a check but writing a check would not have impacted by spirit or my heart. Now don’t get me wrong, writing checks to organizations that rely on giving is critical, and I do that as well. Here’s the difference – the act of consciously going to The Rose changes me. It is an intentional act of community for me. The entire time I am there I think of the women whose lives are helped by my being there along with the countless other women who help in the same way. It binds me to them all in a way that is inexplicable. That is what community is all about for me and my friend’s asking me to do it allowed me to engage in a good deed and to love others in a way that forever alters how I look at the world. For me that is the sense of community that Jesus ushered into the world and asked us to live out on a daily basis.

Prayer
God of grace and mercy, thank you for the opportunity to be in community and may you continue to provoke me to acts that change me and bind me to those around me and remind me of your steadfast love for us all.

Creating Goals -- A look at a longstanding tradition at The Rose

Creating goals for the New Year has been a tradition around The Rose for a long time.


Personally, and in my role as CEO of The Rose, the process of writing down my new year’s goals ignites something mystical and fun within my soul. It allows me to “consider the possibilities” and dream BIG.

The process is simple. At the January Staff meeting, we provide envelopes for each staff member. They have been notified weeks ahead of time that they will have an opportunity to write their goals and seal them in the envelopes. My encouragement is usually something like, “Between now and the staff meeting, take some time to dream. What do you want your upcoming year to be like? Imagine enjoying seeing your dreams come true. Envision yourself attaining whatever it is that would make your heart sing.”

During the meeting, we allow a few minutes for the procrastinators to finally write theirs on paper and for the overachievers to add a few more! Afterwards, I collect the now sealed envelopes, tie them with a red ribbon, and put them in a special drawer — where they will stay until January 2014.

Each January I deliver envelopes to those folks who participated the past year. I promise the staff each year that they will be surprised (and pleased) to see which goals were achieved. I promise this because I know it to be true. I’ve seen it happen again and again.

I offer guidelines to help in the forming of goals and was reminded that these tips might be beneficial to our blog readers so I’m sharing them here as well:

Keep the goal in present time and word them as if they are already achieved.

If you write down, “I need” or “I want”, you will continue to “need” or “want” whatever follows those words. Stating “I have” or “I am” is much more powerful and sends signals to the brain that it is already yours!

For instance, saying “I am the perfect weight” is much stronger than “I lose 10 pounds.” (By the way, you also want to avoid the double whammy of using words like “lose”, because our brain is always looking to replace whatever we say we lose. And THAT’s not always a good thing!)

Make the goal measureable but be careful not to place too many limits on it.

“My bills are easily and effortlessly paid on time and there is plenty of money left over in the bank for my other desires!” is good, while “I earn xx amount of money” could limit what happens.

Don’t forget to include “time” goals.

For instance, “I have time for myself every week/month to ______ .“ (Fill in the blank—have my nails done, take a nap, read a book, play with the kids.)

And maintenance goals are always important -- those things you do anyway but want to be sure you do more of or don’t forget: “I call my family every week” or “I see a great movie each month” or “I exercise 5 times a week.”

Adding date measurements is another great reinforcement.

“I replace that old chair by April 2013.”

There really are no limits to the possibilities that lie ahead for all of us—as long as you don’t limit yourself.

Studies have shown that writing the goals down is powerful and when written down, the success rate of achieving them is phenomenal. We all wish for things to happen or change but until we write down that desire, it stays a wish—lost somewhere in the ethers.

I write down no less than 104 goals each year. I include my Personal Goals, Goals for The Rose, Together Goals to be accomplished with my Sweetie. (Please note, however, he has to agree to those for it to work.)

Why 104? I read somewhere that was a good number for goals and it is.

But you don’t have to limit your goals to 104! Whether it is 4 goals, 100 goals or more, start writing.

This time next year you will be amazed!

-- Dorothy Gibbons

We're blogging again!

2013 will be the year The Rose takes on a new look (watch for a newly redesigned website in the coming weeks), some new programs, and a new approach to familiar communication channels ... like this blog! With our emphasis on quality breast health care and the chance to "put a face" on breast cancer prevention, we look forward to sharing with you in the days ahead.

Day 25 of 25 Memories -- A Countdown to Our 25th Anniversary Gala by Dorothy Gibbons

I’ve been blogging for 25 days, and I could probably do so for many more. You’ll just have to wait for the book! But to mark our last day, I wanted to give a glimpse of what some of those other stories would look like:




1. When we started The Rose breast cancer incidence rate and lifetime risk of being diagnosed was one in 13, now it is one in 8.
2. “You knew it was a snake when you picked it up.” One of Dixie’s most famous lines and unfortunately it did apply to those (very few) folks who wanted to use The Rose for their own purposes. When you are working to stay ‘on mission’ there will always be someone trying to pull you off of it.


3. “Dorothy I need a Cow Boop!” A cow what? Yes that was one of the tasks given to me by one of our former docs. Resourceful we are, especially when you have Cousin Brad who found a Cow Boop!


4. “It’s always a matter of money.” From keeping the doors open to treatment options for uninsured women, it comes down to money and funds. In fact, there was a time when the saying was, “a woman’s prognosis depends on how good her insurance is and how much money she has in the bank.” Thank goodness, The Rose has created an option for the uninsured.


5. When Rose Kushner found a lump in her breast, back in 1979, she was told by her surgeon that is was probably ‘nothing’ and if by chance it was, then he’d tell her husband Harvey and go ahead and do her mastectomy. Rose’s response was too graphic for our blog. It took her visiting 16 surgeons before she found one who would wake her up and let her make the decision. Hence the birth -- due to Rose’s advocacy -- of legislation and protocols that require the “two stage procedure” and “informed consent.”


6. Nothing is EVER off the record. In those early days we counted on local newspaper reporter, Clara Clay to tell the story of breast cancer and early detection. She would spend time with Dixie, meticulously recording facts and figures, listening to Dixie recite the steps of breast self exam and nuances of mammograms. One day Clara turned off the recorder and posited a simple question. “You are so passionate about this Dr. Dixie. What made you want to be a doctor?” she asked. Dixie thinking every thing was “off the record” (obviously I wasn’t present during this interview) started talking and Clara spent another hour with her, never taking a note. The next day, the headlines of the Pasadena Citizen read “Local Surgeon Overcomes Rough Beginnings as a High School Drop-Out.”


7. Gynecologist, Dr. White covered the $25 for Dixie to take the Med Cat exam after doing her pelvic exam and learning Dixie had a 3.9 GPA and was hoping to become a Lab Tech.


8. “None of us knows how long we have on this earth. The only thing we do have is right now, right here and each other. Breast cancer patients have taught me that I need to appreciate every sunrise and every sunset.” Another Dixie-ism. "Hugs are good for the immune system.” It's true! There is clinical proof that touching is healing.


9. Women are smart. They know what they need to do but taking care of everyone else gets in the way more often than not.


10. Educating women is good. Empowering women starts by making sure there is access to care.


11. Rose Employees are always a huge part of the success of every fundraising event and especially the Shrimp Boil. The create baskets for the Raffle, huge baskets filled with all kinds of great gifts, the bake cookies and cakes for the dessert table and the come out in mass to volunteer throughout the day. They are the best!!


12. National studies confirm that being part of a Support Group extends life.


13. Soft spoken and a true southern lady, Diana was our second paid support staff. She survived stage 4 cancer because she heard Dixie on the radio saying “if anyone tells you that lump is a cyst—just by feeling it—you need another doctor.” Diane made every patient feel like there was nothing more important in the world than for her to visit with them and tend to their immediate needs at that very moment.
14. One of the saddest cases was the 63 year old, whose husband had divorced her taking with him the insurance. It was all she could do to find any kind of work at that age and she was banking on staying healthy until she was 65. The lump in her breast put a crimp in that idea. Did we ultimately help her get coverage through Medicaid/Medicare? Yes. It took over 13 months of processing paperwork.


15. In Texas, 59% of the businesses are small businesses which usually do not offer group health insurance. In 79% of the families we serve, at least one person is working, sometimes at two or more jobs. “Working poor” is a true statement.


16. In the early years, volunteers made fabric capes (as opposed to disposable gowns) for our patients to wear. We’d carry the ‘used ones’ home each night to wash, until someone donated a washer dryer set to each center. We wanted each patient to feel comfortable. We also hated that the mammogram plate was always cold so we bought a big “kitty Kat” warmer to place on the ‘buckee’ (plate) between patients. It sounded like a good idea to us but didn’t work.


17. Nancy Brinker, founder of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, showered us with more than one story of ‘real class.”


18. In the first decade, everyone who became an employee had already volunteered in some large or small fashion.


19. Then there the time we were at another breast cancer conference when Dixie, during a reception, started debating with this guy who spoke -- with such a pleasant Swedish accent-- about the superiority of zero-mammography over film screen. He let her talk ‘on and on.’ The next day, as she sat on the front row, she came face-to-face with her ‘debate partner” --internationally famous mammographer, Lazlo Tabar, M.D. who called on the “surgeon” for her opinion throughout the rest of the conference.


20. Women under the age of 40 account for 20% of all the breast cancers we diagnose each year.


21. “We only have one limitation: the one we put on ourselves.” This is the motto of a high school drop out who couldn’t even get a job at the Five and Dime and became a ‘world famous’ surgeon--Dixie.


22. Writing grant proposals is an art in itself. Getting them done by the deadline is a constant challenge when your staff is small and doing many tasks. I’ll never forget the day, long ago, when we finally finished writing our largest request for $100,000. All was ready to go except the 20 copies of the 40-page document. I walked into the office to find the parts of the copy machine strewn about on the floor, a repairman grumbling with his head in the inner workings, hundreds of papers lined up on a table and my grant writer in tears. Somehow the guy resurrected that old machine (another donated item) and got it to print the final copy. “Oh, Dorothy, don’t worry so,” my grant writer said. “It will be fine. I’ll send it Federal Express. I would have gotten in the car and driven it to San Antonio if I had to.”


“It’s supposed to be going to Austin, Verlyn!” I groaned.


(Just another day in the life of the ol’ Bailey’s Savings and Loan.)


23. Running the Rose was a bit like being Colonel Potter in the MASH series. Breast cancer is a ‘war’ that no one volunteers to be in; finding help for the uninsured another war that shouldn’t be. From iconic physicians to a whole bunch of Radars, it takes a lot of skill from a lot of different folks to move a woman from diagnosis to treatment and recovery. We do it every day, one woman at a time.


24. Remembering the day we were trying to get an uninsured woman into treatment and her phone was cut off because she hadn’t paid her bill. Our patient navigator called (then) SW Bell and ‘reasoned’ with the supervisor (after going through several folks) and finally got it turned back on…just in time.


25. We celebrate a lot, birthdays, service awards, finding another service for our women. When donations come in, we walk the halls ringing the bell (yes it is an actual bell) and sharing the good news with patients, physicians, volunteers and employees.




BONUS: We maintain a prayer list and more than one ‘outside’ person has called me to ask for a name to be put on it.


Our next Twenty Five Years are ahead. Who knows what lies ahead? A cure for breast cancer? True health plans for everyone? Perhaps The Rose nationwide?

We are so thankful to the many folks who have been on this journey with us and who will be with us in the years to come.

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."


This memory is one of 25 short stories written by Dorothy Gibbons, the Co-founder and CEO of The Rose, a nonprofit breast cancer organization. She and Dr. Dixie Melillo received the 501C3 documents for The Rose in 1986. A memory will be shared daily, culminating with number 25 on the day The Rose celebrates its 25th anniversary November 10.










© 2011 Dorothy Gibbons. All rights reserved.

Deserving of Recognition (continued) - Day 24 of 25 Memories -- A Countdown to Our 25th Anniversary Gala by Dorothy Gibbons

More on those we’ll be honoring at our 25^th Anniversary Silver Rose Gala, November 10.
 
Since her voice is known all across Texas and much of the nation as well, Connie Yates often gets teased about her southern accent, but I know that behind that southern charm is a woman whose determination has moved mountains, especially when it comes to being a champion for The Rose.  As Director of Public Affairs and Governmental Relations for Randalls Food Markets Connie’s remarkable in-store announcements and radio spots are unmistakable, her enthusiasm bringing life to her message.

When face-to-face with Connie, her passion is evident. Her bright demeanor is dimmed only when talking about her sister who lost her battle with breast cancer two years ago. Maybe it was seeing and knowing what her sister went through after the diagnosis that motivated Connie to be such a champion but somehow I think her unstoppable efforts to increase awareness and funds runs even deeper.

Connie’s most recent foray in support of The Rose involved convincing Channel 2 to team up with Randalls by producing breast cancer awareness public service announcement spots aired at all Randalls stores and featuring the incredibly beautiful and well known anchor Dominque Sachse.  Admittedly, Channel 2 (KPRC) is an old friend also, so maybe it didn’t take a lot of convincing but even so, Connie isn’t someone you can easily say no to.   

She is a stunning lady, always perfectly dressed and her flashing, deep set steel blue eyes demand your fullest attention. Her gorgeous hair belies her youth and energy.  She’s easy to spot in any crowd and in crowds is usually where I’ve found her.  

Randalls events at the different stores -- bake sales, the raffles and the times the managers served breakfast in tuxedoes and long dresses to the staff as another way to raise money in October -- are fond memories for me.  Randalls’ giving involves everyone: employees, managers, vendors and most importantly customers. I couldn’t be any prouder than when I walk through a Randalls and see aisles all decked out in pink balloons and staff sporting pink ribbons.  I marvel at the way cashiers encourage customers to add another dollar or two to their purchases because it is such a good cause.

Randalls has been a supporter of The Rose since 1992 and after nearly two decades they have helped with virtually every service area, from funding our Young  Women’s Services to helping to purchase our first mobile mammography unit in 2006, a service that covers 14 counties and one Randalls has continued to support year after year. Whenever we have guests at The Rose and I tour them through the Randalls Resource and Conference Center, a huge area that has hosted hundreds of educational and fundraising events, I explain that those dollars they are asked to donate in October at Randalls  stores made that area possible.  Seeing the Conference Center or the Mobile Unit brings it all home for Randalls Good Neighbor Program.

Each fall, at the 34 Houston-area Randalls  stores, customers and employees Scan-A-Dollar for breast cancer.  Connie explains, “We say ‘One dollar many times makes many dollars.’” To date, that has totaled $1.5 million.  I’m not sure how she’s done it year in and year out, but I suspect it has been Connie’s influence that has kept those fundraising dollars close to home serving not just The Rose but other breast cancer organizations. 

Some of the best Randalls/Rose moments are the times Dawne Profitt, Randalls Public Affairs and Governmental Relations Manager, would call and leave a message saying, “We have our total amount of our gift to The Rose.”  She would never tell me the amount in the message and after  hours tracking her down, I would learn again of their remarkable gift.  I think Dawne likes to hear me scream.   Dawne and Connie are such a team, a dream team, when it comes to partnering for The Rose.

Making Every Day Matter …

Some folks are supporters long before you even know them and as I go through 25 years of scrapbooks, pictures of one couple keep showing up: Bob and Elaine Domec followed closely behind by Corkey and Debbie Turner.  Be it a Soroptimist event or a Yoga fundraiser, one of those four would show up, sometimes all of them together.

Bob became a member of our Board in 2003 and in 2005 he brought Corkey to the table.  I knew right away putting those two together had to spell trouble since keeping them in line during board meetings was hard enough.  Bob, who abhors wearing socks and hates to dress up (ties do not appear in his wardrobe) has a quick wit and never misses a chance to use it.  Granted Corkey is the quiet one, (conservative in dress, he does wear socks and ties!) but then every comedy act has to have a straight man.

When it came to breast cancer however both were serious.  Bob’s daughter had battled the disease and he had lost a niece to it; both women were way too young to face such ordeals.  Corkey retells the day Debbie thought she had found something and how upset and worried she was.  Thankfully her results were benign but the agony she experienced was a memory he will never forget.  So both these men, these incredibly wonderful men, bring a deep sense of purpose to their work with The Rose.

I remember the meeting they brought up a new fundraising idea.  Boy, did we need new ideas as we were in another one of those especially difficult years,  watching every dollar.  (Actually most of our years are like this but this one was tougher than usual.)

Bob and Corkey are Casa Olé franchisees and they proposed getting as many  restaurants as possible to take one day out of every week in October and give 10% of the stores’ sales to The Rose.  I didn’t really think it would fly—lots of restaurants offer to support this or that charity with portions of the profits but nobody donates 10% of sales—that was huge!

They were committed, even if it was just their stores, they intended to do it.  So we needed a campaign, and we needed to brand it.  Enter our ace communications person (at that time) Maggie Phillips and after lots of brainstorming we came up with “Make Tuesdays Matter.”  And, matter they did.  Bob and Corkey even convinced the Mexican Restaurants Inc. to include their Casa Olé Restaurants which were managed company stores.

It helped that Larry Forehand founder of Casa Olé, who had opened the first restaurant in Pasadena 35 years ago, was also an old friend and supporter of The Rose.

The campaign began and every Tuesday Casa Olés around Harris County and beyond, from Pasadena to Hwy 290 and into Baytown and Conroe, decorated in pink and joined in.   Imagine seeing Make Tuesdays Matter signs on every table at the restaurants, with information about breast cancer symptoms and the importance of early detection displayed.  Make Tuesdays Matter banners lined the walls and migrated to other businesses and the city joined in.  Over the years, other money-making efforts were added, one year Corkey raised $7,000 selling Pink Ribbons which lined the walls with names of survivors or loved ones who had lost their battle.  Local businesses reserved Tuesdays as a special employee “day out” for lunch, and regular customers changed their day to Tuesday. One very special man gave a little extra each visit to sweeten the pot.

Year after year, they came up with different ways to promote Make Tuesdays Matter, maintaining the program through the toughest economic times and to date Casa Ole has raised more than $126,000!  Astounding!

Another difference made by people who care.  We treasure Bob and Corkey more than they can ever imagine. 

And we send our heartfelt thanks to all of the participating Casa Olé restaurants:  7750 Spencer Hwy., Pasadena; 1520 E. Southmore, Pasadena; 2726 Spencer, Pasadena; 3121 Palmer Highway, Texas City; 20131 Highway 59 North, Humble; 12350 Gulf Freeway, Houston; 2608 Highway 36 S., Brenham; 1020 Federal Road, Houston; 5920-A Highway 6 North, Houston; 12203 Murphy Road, Stafford; 11120 Northwest Freeway, Houston; 3100 East Broadway, Pearland; and 2010 Westview, Conroe.

This memory is one of 25 short stories written by Dorothy Gibbons, the Co-founder and CEO of The Rose, a nonprofit breast cancer organization. She and Dr. Dixie Melillo received the 501C3 documents for The Rose in 1986. A memory will be shared daily, culminating with number 25 on the day The Rose celebrates its 25th anniversary November 10.

© 2011 Dorothy Gibbons. All rights reserved.