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BRA Day 2021

Learn About BRA Day

National Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day is an initiative designed to promote education, awareness, and access to information regarding post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. All breast cancer survivors are incredibly brave and have unique journeys, but BRA Day is a way to let them know they are not alone. Informing women of their reconstruction options is critically important to improving life after breast cancer. Research shows that less than a quarter of women receive necessary information about their breast reconstruction options at the time of their mastectomy, and BRA Day aims to change that!

MTF Biologics is proud to have celebrated BRA Day since its inaugural in 2012 and through our BRAve Women campaign. BRAve highlights the stories of hope shared by women who have chosen breast reconstruction following mastectomy and shines a spotlight on how tissue donation helps change lives and reduce the effect of mastectomies on breast cancer survivors. Donated skin grafts have improved breast reconstruction outcomes for thousands of women across the U.S.

To learn more about BRA Day and breast reconstruction options, go to www.breastreconusa.org. You will find information about breast reconstruction procedures and 2022 BRA Day events across the U.S. 


Watch Our BRA Day Video


BRA Day Resources & Materials

MTF Biologics has prepared resources to help spread awareness about BRA Day and how tissue donation helps women with their healing and recovery following breast cancer surgery. Please get in touch with Lauralee_Brown@mtf.org for customization requests.

 

BRAve Stories of Hope

Read about the life-changing tissue transplantation stories of women and their BRAve spirit.

Simone Henderson

Jul 26, 2022, 09:52 AM
Title : The Power of Prevention
isDonor : No
isRecipient : Yes
Sort order :
Long before her close encounter, Simone Henderson knew a thing or two about cancer. As a proud business owner, Simone has been helping female cancer survivors regain their confidence through wigs and hair styling for almost twenty years. Through her client’s stories, she learned about the importance of breast cancer prevention in black women, who are more likely to die from breast cancer at any age than in other demographics. The reality of cancer grew more apparent when Simone’s sister was diagnosed in 2019, sending her on a long journey that ended in her death only a week after stopping treatment. Concerned about her own health, Simone scheduled a mammogram and later learned she was positive for the BRCA gene mutation. With a 70% chance of breast cancer and a 40% chance of ovarian cancer, she knew it was time to take preventative action.
 
“It was all happening very fast,” Simone said. Things moved even faster when she found out she was pregnant with her second child, a baby boy born with a cleft palate. After her son’s birth, Simone consulted with her surgeons. “She underwent three devastating surgeries that strip you of your womanhood—a bilateral mastectomy, oophorectomy, and hysterectomy,” plastic surgeon, Dr. Samita Goyal, shared. “For me, the procedures were a no-brainer,” Simone recalled. Following the mastectomy, she decided to undergo reconstructive surgery using donor skin grafts.
 
While statistics show that black women are less likely to take breast cancer screenings or cancer prevention measures, Simone advises all women to act. “There are so many women whose hair I’ve cut, whose hands I’ve had to hold as they went through cancer,” she explained. “Taking preventative measures reminded me that I did have an option, and I want others to know that too.”
 
Today, Simone is feeling more confident than ever. A registered donor herself, she is grateful for her new body and for the gift of empowerment her donor has given her. The energetic social media influencer continues to use her platform to share her story and spread awareness. “I want to inspire everyone to be proactive, to take care of themselves,” Simone shared. “I’m excited that I did have a choice! I’m so thankful.”
simone_henderson_headshot simone_henderson_detail

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Video Stories

Watch and share three inspiring and motivational stories of BRAve women who are also recipients of donated skin grafts.

DelfinasStory

Delfina's Story

MarysStory

Mary's Story

NaheimaSally

Naheima & Sally

SuesStory

Sue's Story

Download videos here. For co-branding, please contact Lauralee_Brown@mtf.org.


BRAve Women and BRAve Heroes Tributes

Honor our heroes by posting a message to our Tribute Wall.  This could be a BRAve Woman – a woman affected by breast cancer and may refer to herself as a warrior, survivor, or just touched by the disease in some way.  You can also honor a BRAve Hero - a donor who has made transplantation possible for the 1.75 million recipients who are beneficiaries of tissue grafts each year. 

Submit your tribute using the form below!

Simone Henderson

Jul 26, 2022, 09:52 AM
Title : The Power of Prevention
isDonor : No
isRecipient : Yes
Sort order :
Long before her close encounter, Simone Henderson knew a thing or two about cancer. As a proud business owner, Simone has been helping female cancer survivors regain their confidence through wigs and hair styling for almost twenty years. Through her client’s stories, she learned about the importance of breast cancer prevention in black women, who are more likely to die from breast cancer at any age than in other demographics. The reality of cancer grew more apparent when Simone’s sister was diagnosed in 2019, sending her on a long journey that ended in her death only a week after stopping treatment. Concerned about her own health, Simone scheduled a mammogram and later learned she was positive for the BRCA gene mutation. With a 70% chance of breast cancer and a 40% chance of ovarian cancer, she knew it was time to take preventative action.
 
“It was all happening very fast,” Simone said. Things moved even faster when she found out she was pregnant with her second child, a baby boy born with a cleft palate. After her son’s birth, Simone consulted with her surgeons. “She underwent three devastating surgeries that strip you of your womanhood—a bilateral mastectomy, oophorectomy, and hysterectomy,” plastic surgeon, Dr. Samita Goyal, shared. “For me, the procedures were a no-brainer,” Simone recalled. Following the mastectomy, she decided to undergo reconstructive surgery using donor skin grafts.
 
While statistics show that black women are less likely to take breast cancer screenings or cancer prevention measures, Simone advises all women to act. “There are so many women whose hair I’ve cut, whose hands I’ve had to hold as they went through cancer,” she explained. “Taking preventative measures reminded me that I did have an option, and I want others to know that too.”
 
Today, Simone is feeling more confident than ever. A registered donor herself, she is grateful for her new body and for the gift of empowerment her donor has given her. The energetic social media influencer continues to use her platform to share her story and spread awareness. “I want to inspire everyone to be proactive, to take care of themselves,” Simone shared. “I’m excited that I did have a choice! I’m so thankful.”
simone_henderson_headshot simone_henderson_detail

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Meet Ellie's Belle BRAve Donate Life Doll

Meet Ellie's Belle, the Donate Life doll, a doll pendant necklace to support Donate Life and honor breast cancer survivors and recipients of the gift of skin donation through breast reconstruction surgery. She is radiant in her white logo tank with blue jeans and bright pink boots, rhinestone bracelets, breast cancer awareness hope charms in her hand, a pink crystal necklace, and cap atop her white glass pearl head. Silver finish body and chain.

For each Donate Life doll purchase, Ellie's Belles will donate $2 to Donate Life America, the national non-profit organization committed to increasing the number of donated organs, eyes, and tissues available to save and heal lives through transplantation. Each Ellie's Belle is lovingly handcrafted and unique in design. Ellie's Belles dolls are created by Loren Martz.

Donate Life Doll

Buy Now!

Pink Day Contest

Send in your best PINK photo to celebrate BRA Day through October 21st and earn a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card. See contest information and enter your photo here.

Pink and Yellow Pop Fashion Photo Collage


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