From Plastics to Patient Advocate: Honoring Shelley Cooper at This Year’s Everything’s Coming Up Roses Luncheon

Shelley Cooper

Shelley didn’t see herself as “an honoree.” She saw herself as a working mom in a male‑dominated industry who just wanted to stay ahead of breast cancer. In this conversation, she walks us through the mammogram she almost didn’t get, the stage zero DCIS diagnosis that still shook her, and the 10 years of follow‑up, skin checks, and colonoscopies that followed. Her story reminds us that early detection, asking questions, and having access to care—like the care The Rose offers uninsured and underinsured women—can change everything.

Cold Caps and Warm Hearts: Two Friends Versus Breast Cancer

Rochelle and Anne Laure

How do you respond when a friend faces a diagnosis that changes everything? What does real support look like during breast cancer treatment? In this episode, you’ll hear how friendship, early detection, and self-advocacy made a difference. You’ll also learn about the challenges of treatment, the role of caregivers, and ways communities rally when it’s needed most.

The Adventurer’s Guide to Surviving Breast Cancer

Jenny

Trusting your instincts can change everything. Dorothy Gibbons and Jenny Fitzpatrick talk about early breast cancer diagnosis, persistent self-advocacy, and navigating treatment as a young mother. Jenny Fitzpatrick describes celebrating survivorship, building community, and creating new traditions. Stories connect lives. Experiences shape what comes next.

Friendship in the Face of Breast Cancer

Ronnie Haggerty

Today, Dorothy is joined by Ronnie Hagerty, a board member who shares her experience in the nonprofit sector. Ronnie emphasizes the need for nonprofits to operate using best business practices and highlights the misconception that nonprofits don’t need money.

The Studio That Heals: Ballet, Children, and the Heart of Survival

Cookie Joe

Cookie Joe has spent her life teaching dance, shaping not just technique but character, faith, and compassion in her students. When cancer struck, she embraced it as a purposeful challenge, inspiring her community through fundraisers, open conversations, and shared strength. Her story is a celebration of resilience, community, and faith over fear.

The Power of Gratitude: A Woman’s Positive Attitude Throughout Her Cancer Battle

Joanne Patterson

Joanne shares her deeply personal journey of being diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. 
Despite the gravity of her diagnosis, Joanne stayed positive. In her darkest moments, Joanne found solace and support from The Rose, which had a profound impact not only on Joanne but also on her daughter, providing them with the strength to navigate this difficult path together.

Sharpie Marks and Spring Breaks: Surviving Cancer with Courage and Humor

Cristina Rodriguez

Cristina Rodriguez, a Harvard-educated attorney and proud immigrant daughter, faced her diagnosis at 45 with honesty and vulnerability. Communication became her lifeline at home, especially with her young daughters. Now seven years out, she supports others through similar journeys and champions the life-saving power of routine screening.

Stobbe Strong: Lessons in Courage, Compassion, and Kicking Cancer to the Curb

Julie Stobbe

Julie Stobbe’s life took a dramatic turn from Broadway stages to confronting a breast cancer diagnosis, but she transformed adversity into action. Supported by her family, students, and community, she became a beacon of hope and openness. Her leadership in events like Paint the Path Pink now brings strength and awareness to countless others.