GV/ALL/VIEW--Alisa Savoretti, left, a Breast cancer survivor and founder of charity 'My Hope Chest' shares a story with breast cancer survivor Susan Davis, her mother Eleanor Davis, center, and sister Annette Burr. Susan Davis will be the first woman to benefit from the charities program which helps women to pay for reconstructive surgery. Thursday, June 16,2005--View photo by shelly donahue
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Like any survivor of breast cancer, Alisa Savoretti was elated after overcoming the ordeals of a mastectomy and chemotherapy. But like many other survivors, the southwest Las Vegas resident was left with a constant and visible reminder of her hardships. Though she had been treated for the disease, Savoretti found that without insurance, the cost of reconstructive surgery hovered around $25,000.
Inspired by the knowledge she was not alone, Savoretti decided to start a nonprofit organization called My Hope Chest. Her goal is to help women in similar situations afford the reconstructive surgery that she feels is an essential part of the recovery process.
Savoretti found a lump in her breast in August 2001, but didn't go to a doctor immediately because she had just started an online business and didn't have insurance. In November she told a friend about the lump, and the friend insisted Savoretti go to a doctor. She went to the health department and had a biopsy done.
"I was diagnosed on January 17, 2002," Savoretti said. "I was leaving to go to New York for a trade show. After I found out, I was scrambling to figure out what to do about treatment. I was living in Florida at the time, and Pinellas County Social Services ended up providing the treatment."
Savoretti had her mastectomy in March 2002 and started chemotherapy two months later. At the time she also started working on various projects she thought might help other women deal with breast cancer, and she began looking for a program that would help her with the cost of reconstructive surgery.
When she finished her chemotherapy, she still hadn't found such a program.
Savoretti also began working for the Susan G. Komen Foundation's Race for the Cure as a volunteer. There she met Carolyn Muse Grant, who introduced her to the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). Savoretti had continued to pursue her own business, www.retrohome.com, and launched her Web site while she was receiving treatment.
"When I got involved with NAWBO, I called Carolyn and told her about My Hope Chest, which I wanted to start to help women like myself in need," Savoretti said. "She introduced me to another friend of hers, and they both joined the board and helped me get My Hope Chest going."
Early last year, My Hope Chest started setting up its infrastructure. It hosted a kick-off party at Hooters in July. Earlier this month, the organization was finally able to provide its first reconstructive surgery funding to Henderson resident Susan Davis.
"We did the kickoff at Hooters because we wanted to take a light-hearted approach to what we were doing," Savoretti said. "Reconstruction helps to restore a woman to her former self and give back her self-esteem. I think of it as the final step in breast cancer treatment -- you're finally getting yourself put back together. I didn't start really feeling better until I had my reconstructive surgery. I waited two years, two months and 22 days for it. Susan has been waiting for a year, and I'm so happy we're going to be able to help her."
Davis was diagnosed with breast cancer on June 1, 2004, and had surgery five days later. She finished her last round of chemotherapy last October. Because all of the breast tissue is removed during a mastectomy, reconstruction begins with the surgical placement of an expander bag under the skin. The bag will slowly be filled with saline, a process Davis said generally takes three to six months.
Davis said she learned about My Hope Chest when her mother showed her a newspaper article. Like Savoretti, Davis didn't have insurance at the time of her diagnosis.
"Alisa had been in the same position I was in," Davis said. "No one would help her with the costs of reconstructive surgery. She wasn't poor enough for aid, or wealthy enough to pay for it herself.
"I was going to start teaching school in August, and this happened in June. I thought there had to be people that could help other people in the middle of all this, and I found My Hope Chest."
Davis first e-mailed Savoretti to find out about volunteering for My Hope Chest and became the program's first recipient. She plans to continue volunteering with the program, and said she hopes to eventually work full-time for the organization.
"I'm very excited about this," Davis said. "I'm excited to move on. Right now, I have a reminder every day. Clothes don't fit right. I'd have to buy a certain swimsuit, and everything is very pricey. You're off balance, you're just not yourself."
Savoretti hopes her organization will be able to help more women.
"Basically, if you don't qualify for Medicaid, you qualify for My Hope Chest," Savoretti said.
My Hope Chest was able to finance Davis' surgery after a board member made a $10,000 donation. Savoretti said four days before the surgery, Dr. William Zamboni, the plastic surgeon who performed Davis' surgery, offered to donate his services.
"It's been a struggle getting My Hope Chest started, but it's been worth it," Savoretti said. "Now we need volunteers, board members and sponsors and grants. It's a wonderful cause.
"I want to help more women in this area receive reconstructive surgery, and my big goal is to see My Hope Chest become a national organization. I want to be able to set up affiliates throughout the country, and I'm trying to get some fundraisers going. I'd like to do a big show, like the Golden Rainbow. But for now, I'm just happy to be a survivor."
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