Meet the Interim CEO Guiding The Rose Through Change

Katherine Parsley

Named interim CEO, Katherine Parsley brings decades of courtroom, nonprofit, and judicial experience to The Rose. As a longtime patient and daughter of a survivor, she centers early mammograms, steady leadership, and practical encouragement for a largely women led team in transition.

Julia Morales on Baseball, Motherhood, and Breast Cancer in the Family

Julia Morales

Baseball built Julia’s career, but it’s the people behind the game who keep her in Houston. She traces her path from small‑town athlete to Astros broadcaster, then opens up about 2020, when pregnancy, COVID, and her mother’s breast cancer collided, pushing her to start mammograms early and speak candidly about family history and early detection.

God Winks, Ringing Bells, and The Rose: Nancy and Shelley’s Shared Journey as Honorees at the Everything’s Coming Up Roses Luncheon

Nancy and Shelley

Nancy and Shelley didn’t plan to share a breast cancer story, much less two very different diagnoses, eight years apart. One faced stage zero DCIS at 41 after pushing for a 3D mammogram; the other walked into an annual screening, felt no lump, and still heard “stage two HER2‑positive.” In this conversation, we talk about what happens when two pragmatic, organized women lean on faith, friendship, and their networks to move fast on treatment—then turn around and use their experience to champion The Rose and the women who rely on us for access to mammograms, diagnostics, and compassionate care.

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.

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.

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.

Boobies and Babes: Empowering Younger Women for Breast Health

Keyana McKenzie

Keyanna McKenzie went from navigating family history and personal health challenges to creating the “Boobies and Babes” event, empowering women to prioritize their health. Her mission is to break the silence, foster community, and make conversations about breasts and self-exams a normal part of life. Inspired by her grandmothers and her own experiences, she now advocates for advocacy, awareness, and living dreams fully.

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.