I originally wrote about my friend, Alice Crisci, and her foundation for breast cancer after I met her last fall on a cruise. At only 31, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and decided to have a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery - all before she had ever gotten married or had children. As a part of her unique demographic (single and childless) as a cancer patient, she started My Vision Foundation (www.myvision.org ) to help make a difference in younger women's lives who have been diagnosed with this disease. 

Alice is truly one of the most inspirational people I have ever met. Her story (and her willingness to share it so openly) has truly increased my awareness of breast cancer and the effects of it more than anything else ever has. And her incredible attitude and passion for living life out loud -as well as helping others through her example and foundation - is no less than amazing.

Prior to her double mastectomy, Alice also wrote a novella called Too Young For This for other breast cancer patients and their loved ones, had a nude photo shoot to commemorate the body she was born with while grieving the coming loss of her breasts, launched the foundation with a an evening cocktail reception and preserved her fertility.  Not only that, but she has approached her diagnosis, treatment, recovery and journey with more grace, finesse, laughter and style than anyone I've ever met. Her attitude and approach in our first meeting last fall left me with the words "What would Alice do?" to use as a mantra whenever I am facing difficulties in life that seem too big to handle. She is just that inspiring.

As I mentioned above, one of the ways Alice decided to nurture and heal herself was to schedule a creative, nude photo shoot of herself before her breast cancer surgery. At times playful and others melancholy, Alice took the chance to honor her body though photography thus creating a visual memory and tool for her own use and process. Below she models butterfly wings and shows off her hot pink wig that she donned during chemo.



In the last few days I have been reminded of how breast cancer touches my life and all of us. And though today is Father's Day, it is the mother's, sisters, and daughters in our lives who are most often personally or directly affected by breast cancer.  I wanted to publish this post for them - the women in our lives that are (or have) courageously battling this illness - in the hopes that it will bring them some comfort, inspiration and hope in their own journey and healing.

If you know someone with breast cancer, please share Alice's story and website with them and their friends or family.  Purchase a copy of her book for yourself and others. It is a quick read but one that will affect you deeply.  I also encourage you to live by her example. Take charge of your life now. Honor your body. Live life to the fullest.  Donate your time, energy, creativity or money to a charity that you care deeply about (or one that helps people or causes you care about.) And of course, let all the people in your life know just how much they mean to you today and everyday.

Check out the links below to read about Alice and her story as well as to visit the site for her foundation, My Vision. I encourage you to purchase her book at the very least and to find a way to get involved.

Alice's Blog on The Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alice-crisci

 http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_8827085

www.myvision.org
PO Box 3803 Manhattan Beach, CA 90266-1803   P: 877 276 5951   F: 310 356 6089   E: info@myvision.org