Gracie underwent genetic testing several years ago and found out that she is BCRA positive. She had annual screenings and planned to continue to do so until she was ready to schedule a preventative double mastectomy several years from now in her late 30s or early 40s. In the spring of 2023, Gracie and her father hiked the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage through northwest Spain. She completed over 100km of walking in what was a mentally and physically demanding experience and just a week after her return home, Gracie found a lump on her own. In an instant her whole world changed at just 30 years old.
Testing showed that Gracie had triple negative, stage 2 breast cancer. She jumped into treatment and has had a whirlwind of a year. Throughout it all, Gracie has chosen to look at the silver linings in life. She even threw herself a party prior to her double mastectomy with all of her “breasties” as they wore fun wigs and played games as a sendoff. In September, Gracie had what will hopefully be her final surgery for reconstruction. As she enters this new phase of survivorship, Gracie is learning to navigate the different mental hurdles and challenges now that she is “done” with treatment.
FAB-U-WISH and The Pink Agenda were thrilled to grant Gracie a special experience including a day of pampering, beauty, and shopping before an unforgettable afternoon at TPA Chicago’s Pink on the River Brunch.
If you would like to learn more about @giulianarancic’s FAB-U-WISH initiative, or nominate someone for a wish experience, click the link in our bio!
Quote: “Words cannot express my gratitude for being chosen as a recipient for FAB-U-WISH! Breast cancer takes so much from you, and it changes you, that it can be difficult to feel like yourself. Having organizations like FAB-U-WISH that can help you to feel gorgeous and feminine are so uplifting. Everyone deserves some extra light and happiness in our lives when going through a cancer diagnosis.
Attending the Pink on the River event was extremely moving. It was powerful hearing other women’s stories and learning the impact The Pink Agenda and FAB-U-WISH are doing for the breast cancer community. Looking across the room and seeing everyone wearing their pink gave me a strong sense of community, we’re all in this together. As I’ve heard before, breast cancer is the worst club but the best members.”
