July 10, 2012 College News - Working in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery with breast cancer survivors has made an impact on Kathy Mortl, RN. She has spent the past seven years supporting the survivors however she could during the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. First it was handing out cookies and trinkets during the walk, but last year she launched a new idea she thought would more greatly impact the survivors - she began collecting handmade cards from around the world to present to the survivors prior to the race.
Mortl said she was overwhelmed last year by everyone’s generosity. She put out a plea on a friend’s blog for handmade cards that could be given to each survivor attending the Survivor’s Breakfast and received more than 900 handmade, hand-written cards from survivors themselves from nearly all 50 states and five different countries from around the world.
“Sometimes it is the little homemade, heart felt gift that makes all the difference in the world,” Mortl said. “I cannot walk in their shoes, but I can hold their hand through their journey, and this is one small way I can bring them something special.”
This year’s race is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 23, and it is expected that more than 18,000 people, including more than 1,200 survivors, will participate. Mortl asks her fellow MCW community members to consider making cards for her to distribute to the survivors. Cards can be sent to her attention in the Department of Plastic Surgery.
If you have any questions about the cards, please contact Mortl, Kmortl@mcw.edu.