Miles For MBC & Kelly Marie

Hi! I am a 45-year-old wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, pediatric pulmonologist and Stage 4, metastatic breast cancer thriver. I was nursing my daughter 7 years ago and felt a lump that seemed like a clogged duct. I had persistent back pain and after a thorough work up was found to have breast cancer in multiple bones and my liver. I was treated with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, but my cancer progressed to my lungs and brain. I have now been through five different lines of treatment, and unfortunately, my cancer continues to grow. Because of a tumor in my midbrain, I can no longer walk independently due to weakness in my right hand and leg. I have diplopia in my left eye and have experienced cognitive challenges, including slurred speech, memory loss, loss of balance and confusion. Still, I continue to hope and fight. I am praying for a new treatment or clinical trial that can stop the cancer in my body, so I can be here to watch my children grow up and graduate from college. Please consider donating so we can find a cure and turn stage 4, metastatic breast cancer into a chronic illness rather than a terminal illness.

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In Loving Memory of Adina Perullo

May we never forget a remarkable young woman, Adina Perullo, who bravely battled MBC. Her mantra was “We are the storm”, and that she was. Her strength and courage were an inspiration to us all, and she had a powerful impact on so many. Adina may be gone, but the memory of her as a fierce and resilient storm will live on forever.

In Loving Memory of Diane C. Donohue

On December 30th, Diane C. Donohue completed her brave five-year journey with metastatic breast cancer. She gave cancer a run for its money the only way she knew how—with kindness, compassion, grace, determination, and acceptance. She was our peaceful warrior, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. As we reflect on life, we know it's not degrees, career milestones, houses, or cars that define success. It's how many lives you touch. And Diane had the most successful life. She touched so many people, from friends and family to perfect strangers. She talked to everyone she encountered, usually offering words of wisdom or lending a listening ear, even during her most challenging days, because it made her feel better to help others. Diane was one of Kelly’s Fordham moms; she adored her and the other Fordham girls and then felt a kinship with Kelly as they both powered through the same disease. She is walking with us here in spirit today, and we would love for you to join Miles for MBC and Kelly Marie or to make a donation to fund research on metastatic breast cancer.

• Approximately 30% of early stage breast cancer survivors will have a recurrence as metastatic disease
• Metastases can occur as early as several months to 25+ years after treatment
• 670,000 people a year die from metastatic breast cancer globally
• Only 31% of U.S. MBC patients live longer than 5 years, and only 11% of live longer than 10 years
• There is NO CURE for MBC