Medical Conferences
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Pediatric Alliance
April 28 - 30, 2025
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SAWC- Spring
May 01 - 3, 2025
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American Cleft Palate Association (ACPA)
May 06 - 10, 2025
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SCALE Meeting
May 14 - 18, 2025
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Ohio Valley Society of Plastic Surgeons Meeting
May 15 - 17, 2025
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Learn About BRA Day
National Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day is an initiative designed to promote education, awareness, and access to information regarding post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. All breast cancer survivors are incredibly brave and have unique journeys, but BRA Day is a way to let them know they are not alone. Informing women of their reconstruction options is critically important to improving life after breast cancer. Research shows that less than a quarter of women receive necessary information about their breast reconstruction options at the time of their mastectomy, and BRA Day aims to change that!
MTF Biologics is proud to have celebrated BRA Day since its inaugural in 2012 and through our BRAve Women campaign. BRAve highlights the stories of hope shared by women who have chosen breast reconstruction following mastectomy and shines a spotlight on how tissue donation helps change lives and reduce the effect of mastectomies on breast cancer survivors. Donated skin grafts have improved breast reconstruction outcomes for thousands of women across the U.S.
To learn more about BRA Day and breast reconstruction options, go to www.breastreconusa.org. You will find information about breast reconstruction procedures and 2022 BRA Day events across the U.S.
Watch Our BRA Day Video
BRA Day Resources & Materials
MTF Biologics has prepared resources to help spread awareness about BRA Day and how tissue donation helps women with their healing and recovery following breast cancer surgery. Please get in touch with Lauralee_Brown@mtf.org for customization requests.
Resources for Social Media Posts
BRAve Stories of Hope
Read about the life-changing tissue transplantation stories of women and their BRAve spirit.
Karen Hezlep
Growing up, Karen Hezlep shared everything with her two younger sisters. From dolls to clothes to secrets, it seemed that the trio would always be inseparable. “They’ve always been my best friends,” the wife and mom-of-two recalled. However, after the diagnosis of her youngest sister and the sudden death of her middle sister, Karen soon learned that the siblings shared something much more dire – breast cancer.
The death of her sister caused major ripples in Karen’s and her family’s life. “It came as a shock to all of us,” she explained. “She was fine one day and gone the next. It wasn’t until after her death that we learned she was also diagnosed with breast cancer.” Concerned for her health, doctors quickly placed Karen in a high-risk breast cancer program. After the first MRI screening, Karen learned she had cancer in both breasts. “There was a weird feeling of inevitability,” she shared. While the cancer required a mastectomy on one side and only a lumpectomy on the other, Karen requested a bilateral mastectomy, a decision that saved her life when the other side proved fatal as well. She was then given reconstructive surgery using donated human skin grafts. The donation reminded Karen of her sister, who was a nurse and donated her corneas to help give others the gift of sight.
Today, Karen is cancer free and grateful to have more time with family and friends. When looking at her new body, she remembers her sister and the immeasurable gift her donor has given her. As a donor herself, Karen was eager to let her donor family know what their sacrifice meant to her. “Thank you for giving me the chance to have my life back and to feel normal again,” Karen wrote. “I can’t put a price on it, and I’ll never be able to explain how grateful I am for that gift.”
Video Stories
Watch and share three inspiring and motivational stories of BRAve women who are also recipients of donated skin grafts.
Delfina's Story
Mary's Story
Naheima & Sally
Simone's Story
Sue's Story
Download videos here. For co-branding, please contact Lauralee_Brown@mtf.org.
BRAve Women and BRAve Heroes Tributes
Honor our heroes by posting a message to our Tribute Wall. This could be a BRAve Woman – a woman affected by breast cancer and may refer to herself as a warrior, survivor, or just touched by the disease in some way. You can also honor a BRAve Hero - a donor who has made transplantation possible for the 1.75 million recipients who are beneficiaries of tissue grafts each year.
Submit your tribute using the form below!
Karen Hezlep
Growing up, Karen Hezlep shared everything with her two younger sisters. From dolls to clothes to secrets, it seemed that the trio would always be inseparable. “They’ve always been my best friends,” the wife and mom-of-two recalled. However, after the diagnosis of her youngest sister and the sudden death of her middle sister, Karen soon learned that the siblings shared something much more dire – breast cancer.
The death of her sister caused major ripples in Karen’s and her family’s life. “It came as a shock to all of us,” she explained. “She was fine one day and gone the next. It wasn’t until after her death that we learned she was also diagnosed with breast cancer.” Concerned for her health, doctors quickly placed Karen in a high-risk breast cancer program. After the first MRI screening, Karen learned she had cancer in both breasts. “There was a weird feeling of inevitability,” she shared. While the cancer required a mastectomy on one side and only a lumpectomy on the other, Karen requested a bilateral mastectomy, a decision that saved her life when the other side proved fatal as well. She was then given reconstructive surgery using donated human skin grafts. The donation reminded Karen of her sister, who was a nurse and donated her corneas to help give others the gift of sight.
Today, Karen is cancer free and grateful to have more time with family and friends. When looking at her new body, she remembers her sister and the immeasurable gift her donor has given her. As a donor herself, Karen was eager to let her donor family know what their sacrifice meant to her. “Thank you for giving me the chance to have my life back and to feel normal again,” Karen wrote. “I can’t put a price on it, and I’ll never be able to explain how grateful I am for that gift.”
Meet Ellie's Belle BRAve Donate Life Doll
Meet Ellie's Belle, the Donate Life doll, a doll pendant necklace to support Donate Life and honor breast cancer survivors and recipients of the gift of skin donation through breast reconstruction surgery. She is radiant in her white logo tank with blue jeans and bright pink boots, rhinestone bracelets, breast cancer awareness hope charms in her hand, a pink crystal necklace, and cap atop her white glass pearl head. Silver finish body and chain.
For each Donate Life doll purchase, Ellie's Belles will donate $2 to Donate Life America, the national non-profit organization committed to increasing the number of donated organs, eyes, and tissues available to save and heal lives through transplantation. Each Ellie's Belle is lovingly handcrafted and unique in design. Ellie's Belles dolls are created by Loren Martz.
Pink Day Contest
Send in your best PINK photo to celebrate BRA Day through October 21st and earn a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card. See contest information and enter your photo here.
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MTF Biologics is a registered trademark of the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation.
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