For more than 16 years, Maribel has overseen the day-to-day operations of the Comprehensive Breast Clinic at the Cecilia Gonzalez De La Hoya Cancer Center at Adventist White Memorial Hospital, an NBCF partner facility, in Los Angeles, CA. In her role, she helps countless women through their own breast cancer diagnoses and treatments.
But that changed in December 2018 when Maribel was diagnosed with Stage 3C breast cancer. Suddenly, her world stood still as she feared she would not see her daughters grow up.
After receiving abnormal results from a mammogram, Maribel immediately trusted her co-workers at White Memorial to perform the next steps in testing. Maribel was sent for a breast ultrasound and, shortly after, her doctor recommended a biopsy. “I knew in that moment,” Maribel said. “I could see it in their faces.”
Three days later, Maribel received a diagnosis of Stage 3C breast cancer from her friends and co-workers at White Memorial. “It hit me like a truck,” she said. “But I knew right then and there that I was not going to get treated anywhere else. These people love me, they will take care of me. I’m going to get treated here.”
From that moment, Maribel’s breast cancer journey began within the walls of the place she works and calls her second home. The unwavering support of her co-workers and the dedicated care she received from her colleagues-turned-caregivers lifted her up.
Many breast cancer patients develop close relationships with their healthcare providers, who can offer them a unique system of support from a medical perspective, providing their patients with knowledge, encouragement, and, ultimately, the treatments that will hopefully save their lives.
In Maribel’s case, her support system was simultaneously medical and personal. Maribel recalls, “It meant everything to have my co-workers support me. I remember vividly being asked if I wanted to be treated somewhere else for privacy reasons. Without hesitation, I said, ‘NO.’ I wanted the people that I work with and who are my family to take care of me. I was fortunate to have an army by my side every step of the way. My co-workers are my angels.”
One of Maribel’s doctors shared about the unique situation Maribel endured. “Maribel had to endure all the things that she’s seen our patients go through,” he said. “And now with that experience, she is able to deliver more compassionate care to our patients and offer that background of support, to provide any kind of emotional support that they may need.”
Today, Maribel is cancer-free and grateful for more moments with her husband and daughters.
As a survivor, Maribel shares this advice with the women she continues to serve at White Memorial, as well as anyone facing a breast cancer diagnosis: “Stay positive, but if you need to cry, let it out. Do not compare your journey to someone else’s journey. Talking about it does make it real, but it also helps heal the soul.”
NBCF is grateful to partner with numerous quality medical facilities and hospitals across the country. These facilities provide free screenings and patient navigation services to women in need.
If you or a loved one cannot afford a mammogram, search for an NBCF partner facility near you. These facilities offer free and low-cost mammograms and screenings to those who are uninsured, underinsured, or cannot otherwise afford screening. Search for a National Mammography Program facility in your area.
NBCF patient navigators work tirelessly to guide women through their breast cancer journeys, from scheduling appointments and connecting them to financial resources to serving as bilingual interpreters and offering a supportive hand to hold during treatment, all at no cost to the patient. Search for a patient navigator in your area.
National Breast Cancer Foundation is here for you and your loved ones. Whether you need support, education, or help during treatment, we have a team dedicated to getting you the help you deserve.
Donations are always appreciated, but there are lots of great ways to get involved.
