Danny and Wren had been sweethearts since college, so when he proposed to her, it felt meant to be. Then, six months later Wren was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. She was just 29 years old. "When we got the call, we were blindsided. Just having the shock of that," says Danny. The journey Wren and Danny were about to begin was nothing like the one they had planned, and their wedding had to be postponed.
Over the next two years, Danny watched Wren endure a double mastectomy, treatment, and radiation. Then, just as they felt they were coming to the other side, they learned that Wren's cancer had metastasized and spread to her lungs.
Determined that nothing was going to delay them from getting married any longer, they set a date for the ceremony. But Wren, having lost all her hair during treatment, was very anxious about her bald head. Not wanting to wear a wig on the day she had waited so long to experience, she reached out to Carolina Breast Friends (CBF) to see if there was any other creative solution.
In true CBF spirit, our staff swung into action by crafting Wren a one-of-a-kind headwrap, adorned with beads from our jewelry class--the kind of hands-on, personalized approach at the heart of our work. Danny shares, "Wren wanted to make sure she felt absolutely comfortable on our big day, so you can only imagine the blessing CBF delivered. She looked stunning and felt empowered."
And that was just the beginning. Soon after her wedding, we matched Wren with a Mentor of similar diagnosis for ongoing one-on-one support. Wren also began attending sessions we offer--particularly the Charlotte Metsters Support Group, whose meetings we host at The Pink House. This connected Wren with others who are living with a metastatic diagnosis.
Through the help and connection Wren found at CBF, she and Danny no longer feel like they are on the journey alone, and Wren has now launched a podcast, Living Our Breast Lives, to help others experiencing breast cancer.
Another witness to her breast cancer journey, Wren's sister, Lacey, has watched Wren regain her sense of self and emerge empowered. "I am so proud of Wren's advocacy for others who are going through the same thing she has been going through," Lacey shares.
Walking alongside Wren through her experience, both Danny and Lacey have seen the strength of Carolina Breast Friends mission in action--starting with a moment of need, and then expanding to provide support impactful enough to help a Survivor or Thriver find solid, new ground.
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