Post Traumatic Growth: Inspiring Stories of Three Thrivers

Post Traumatic Growth:
Inspiring Stories of Three Thrivers

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Donna T. Bacon, Ph.D, LCSW, CT is a tenured Professor at Nassau Community College in the Health Studies department, where she has taught for over 20 years. She is the founding Executive Director of Mid-Nassau Lend a Helping Hand, which is an organization she founded to provide emergency financial services to women undergoing recent breast cancer surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment.  She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Private Therapist and Certified Thanatologist.  She earned both a Doctoral degree in Human Behavior Studies and a Master of Science degree from Columbia University, she also earned a Master of Social Work degree from Adelphi University. Donna has been regionally and nationally awarded for her work with women and minorities on Long Island and serves as a consultant on a diverse range of topics. Her work, volunteerism and advocacy are dedicated to the education, empowerment and health promotion of women, families and underserved communities.

Diagnosed with breast cancer in her 20’s, Dana Donofree founded AnaOno out of her own necessity and desire for not only beautiful but comfortable lingerie that fit her surgically altered body. After a mastectomy with reconstruction traditional bras no longer fit, and Dana was certain there must be more than just sports bras and camisoles out there. With a degree in fashion design from Savannah College of Art and Design, and a successful fashion industry career, she took her decade-plus of product experience and put it toward designing, launching, and building AnaOno, Chest-Inclusive Intimates Designed Differently. Dana is very active in the breast cancer community and is involved with several non-profits supporting young breast cancer patients and Stage IV Metastatic Research. Her story has been featured on Good Morning America, USA Today, The Today Show, HuffPost, New York Times, INStyle, and many others. Even with these incredible accomplishments, she is most proud of being able to make a difference in the lives of patients worldwide and is honored to continue to spread the mission of beauty, confidence, and chest-inclusion.

Abby Match is a Speech Language Pathologist in Early Intervention throughout Philadelphia County and became a breast cancer advocate after a diagnosis at 35 years young.  Getting a triple negative breast cancer diagnosis and later finding she carried a BRCA1 mutation was devastating, but she learned how to turn pain into gain.  “I dig deep into the health system to find where the flaws are, and I network to see how we can help others screened for genetic mutations prior to disease.  Fundraising comes easy to me, and I wholeheartedly love doing it.  Since March 2021, I have raised $41,000 through my hobby of selling beaded jewelry and I refer to this as “beading cancer together”.  I give back to organizations close to my heart who can make a difference in the life of a patient.  When I was diagnosed, there were many women I looked to who paved the way for me to understand my own disease and treatment options. I truly understand the importance of a patient’s voice and advocacy work.  Although I have not spent much time in the cancer community, I have witnessed how much of a difference one can make.  I don’t celebrate a diagnosis of cancer, but I do celebrate the journey and the good that can come from it.  If I can help others diagnosed with cancer get the appropriate access, resources, and funds they need to get through their treatment and beyond as I was so fortunate to have, then I feel fulfilled.”