The Box of Connection: A Breast Cancer Journey of Hope, Bravery, and Beauty
By: Rebecca Baker, Executive Director of Betty’s Brave & Beautiful Hearts Foundation
One in eight women in Kentucky will be diagnosed with breast cancer. This startling statistic from the Kentucky Cancer Registry will make any woman stop and think. I learned from my mother’s own fight that there is plenty that can be done in helping diagnosed women heal and find comfort during their treatment, but it’s challenging to know where to start.
At Betty’s Brave & Beautiful Hearts Foundation, our goal is to ease the journey for women in Kentucky battling breast cancer. Our foundation was born from a promise.
My mother, Betty, was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. As a beloved mother and grandmother, she fought bravely for more than a year. During her treatment, we realized together that there was a large gap in the market for post-mastectomy care. If my mother was hurting, there was no doubt in my mind that others were as well.
Our foundation grew from a promise I made to my mother to fill that gap and help women heal more comfortably at home. We provide hand-selected items based on my own experience with a double mastectomy, and the insights I gained while caring for my mother during her own battle. Our recipients refer to this as the “bright pink box”, and in less than two years, we have served more than 600 women.
Throughout this process, I found that helping others and building a community have become essential parts of healing.
A breast cancer diagnosis can leave women feeling vulnerable, as though a part of themselves is missing. To help foster connection, our recipients, affectionately referred to as “Betty’s Girls,” are welcomed into a private Facebook group where they can find a supportive community that extends beyond their diagnosis.
Today, our online presence continues to grow with more than 4,000 followers across our platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Our network has blossomed into a community grounded in mutual understanding and love and reflects my mom’s unique ability to make everyone around her feel seen and special. With posts of personal testimonies from Betty’s Girls, along with updates on our community efforts, our social media presence allows us to spread the word and help reach more brave and beautiful women battling breast cancer.
Our virtual network has, and will continue to be, a safe gathering place filled with encouragement, connection, and community.
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I am taking time to reflect and find my continued inspiration in taking action for those who have been diagnosed. If you would like to be involved with our mission, we invite you to consider making a donation in tribute to a loved one. While our boxes are free for Kentucky residents, if you know someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer out of state, you’re always welcome to sponsor a box for them.
You can follow us on Facebook or Instagram as we share our mission and reach more brave and beautiful women each day – one bright pink box at a time.
