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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Courage. Gratitude. Hope.
These are just a few of the words that tissue recipients share with us on a regular basis. Although every story is unique, each provides a glimpse into the tremendous impact that the life-saving gift of tissue donation has on the healing journey.
Featured Stories
Simone Henderson
Title :
The Power of Prevention
isDonor :
No
isRecipient :
Yes
Sort order :
Long before her close encounter, Simone Henderson knew a thing or two about cancer. As a proud business owner, Simone has been helping female cancer survivors regain their confidence through wigs and hair styling for almost twenty years. Through her client’s stories, she learned about the importance of breast cancer prevention in black women, who are more likely to die from breast cancer at any age than in other demographics. The reality of cancer grew more apparent when Simone’s sister was diagnosed in 2019, sending her on a long journey that ended in her death only a week after stopping treatment. Concerned about her own health, Simone scheduled a mammogram and later learned she was positive for the BRCA gene mutation. With a 70% chance of breast cancer and a 40% chance of ovarian cancer, she knew it was time to take preventative action.
“It was all happening very fast,” Simone said. Things moved even faster when she found out she was pregnant with her second child, a baby boy born with a cleft palate. After her son’s birth, Simone consulted with her surgeons. “She underwent three devastating surgeries that strip you of your womanhood—a bilateral mastectomy, oophorectomy, and hysterectomy,” plastic surgeon, Dr. Samita Goyal, shared. “For me, the procedures were a no-brainer,” Simone recalled. Following the mastectomy, she decided to undergo reconstructive surgery using donor skin grafts.
While statistics show that black women are less likely to take breast cancer screenings or cancer prevention measures, Simone advises all women to act. “There are so many women whose hair I’ve cut, whose hands I’ve had to hold as they went through cancer,” she explained. “Taking preventative measures reminded me that I did have an option, and I want others to know that too.”
Today, Simone is feeling more confident than ever. A registered donor herself, she is grateful for her new body and for the gift of empowerment her donor has given her. The energetic social media influencer continues to use her platform to share her story and spread awareness. “I want to inspire everyone to be proactive, to take care of themselves,” Simone shared. “I’m excited that I did have a choice! I’m so thankful.”
“It was all happening very fast,” Simone said. Things moved even faster when she found out she was pregnant with her second child, a baby boy born with a cleft palate. After her son’s birth, Simone consulted with her surgeons. “She underwent three devastating surgeries that strip you of your womanhood—a bilateral mastectomy, oophorectomy, and hysterectomy,” plastic surgeon, Dr. Samita Goyal, shared. “For me, the procedures were a no-brainer,” Simone recalled. Following the mastectomy, she decided to undergo reconstructive surgery using donor skin grafts.
While statistics show that black women are less likely to take breast cancer screenings or cancer prevention measures, Simone advises all women to act. “There are so many women whose hair I’ve cut, whose hands I’ve had to hold as they went through cancer,” she explained. “Taking preventative measures reminded me that I did have an option, and I want others to know that too.”
Today, Simone is feeling more confident than ever. A registered donor herself, she is grateful for her new body and for the gift of empowerment her donor has given her. The energetic social media influencer continues to use her platform to share her story and spread awareness. “I want to inspire everyone to be proactive, to take care of themselves,” Simone shared. “I’m excited that I did have a choice! I’m so thankful.”
Simone Henderson
Title :
The Power of Prevention
isDonor :
No
isRecipient :
Yes
Sort order :
Long before her close encounter, Simone Henderson knew a thing or two about cancer. As a proud business owner, Simone has been helping female cancer survivors regain their confidence through wigs and hair styling for almost twenty years. Through her client’s stories, she learned about the importance of breast cancer prevention in black women, who are more likely to die from breast cancer at any age than in other demographics. The reality of cancer grew more apparent when Simone’s sister was diagnosed in 2019, sending her on a long journey that ended in her death only a week after stopping treatment. Concerned about her own health, Simone scheduled a mammogram and later learned she was positive for the BRCA gene mutation. With a 70% chance of breast cancer and a 40% chance of ovarian cancer, she knew it was time to take preventative action.
“It was all happening very fast,” Simone said. Things moved even faster when she found out she was pregnant with her second child, a baby boy born with a cleft palate. After her son’s birth, Simone consulted with her surgeons. “She underwent three devastating surgeries that strip you of your womanhood—a bilateral mastectomy, oophorectomy, and hysterectomy,” plastic surgeon, Dr. Samita Goyal, shared. “For me, the procedures were a no-brainer,” Simone recalled. Following the mastectomy, she decided to undergo reconstructive surgery using donor skin grafts.
While statistics show that black women are less likely to take breast cancer screenings or cancer prevention measures, Simone advises all women to act. “There are so many women whose hair I’ve cut, whose hands I’ve had to hold as they went through cancer,” she explained. “Taking preventative measures reminded me that I did have an option, and I want others to know that too.”
Today, Simone is feeling more confident than ever. A registered donor herself, she is grateful for her new body and for the gift of empowerment her donor has given her. The energetic social media influencer continues to use her platform to share her story and spread awareness. “I want to inspire everyone to be proactive, to take care of themselves,” Simone shared. “I’m excited that I did have a choice! I’m so thankful.”
“It was all happening very fast,” Simone said. Things moved even faster when she found out she was pregnant with her second child, a baby boy born with a cleft palate. After her son’s birth, Simone consulted with her surgeons. “She underwent three devastating surgeries that strip you of your womanhood—a bilateral mastectomy, oophorectomy, and hysterectomy,” plastic surgeon, Dr. Samita Goyal, shared. “For me, the procedures were a no-brainer,” Simone recalled. Following the mastectomy, she decided to undergo reconstructive surgery using donor skin grafts.
While statistics show that black women are less likely to take breast cancer screenings or cancer prevention measures, Simone advises all women to act. “There are so many women whose hair I’ve cut, whose hands I’ve had to hold as they went through cancer,” she explained. “Taking preventative measures reminded me that I did have an option, and I want others to know that too.”
Today, Simone is feeling more confident than ever. A registered donor herself, she is grateful for her new body and for the gift of empowerment her donor has given her. The energetic social media influencer continues to use her platform to share her story and spread awareness. “I want to inspire everyone to be proactive, to take care of themselves,” Simone shared. “I’m excited that I did have a choice! I’m so thankful.”
Simone Henderson
Title :
The Power of Prevention
isDonor :
No
isRecipient :
Yes
Sort order :
Long before her close encounter, Simone Henderson knew a thing or two about cancer. As a proud business owner, Simone has been helping female cancer survivors regain their confidence through wigs and hair styling for almost twenty years. Through her client’s stories, she learned about the importance of breast cancer prevention in black women, who are more likely to die from breast cancer at any age than in other demographics. The reality of cancer grew more apparent when Simone’s sister was diagnosed in 2019, sending her on a long journey that ended in her death only a week after stopping treatment. Concerned about her own health, Simone scheduled a mammogram and later learned she was positive for the BRCA gene mutation. With a 70% chance of breast cancer and a 40% chance of ovarian cancer, she knew it was time to take preventative action.
“It was all happening very fast,” Simone said. Things moved even faster when she found out she was pregnant with her second child, a baby boy born with a cleft palate. After her son’s birth, Simone consulted with her surgeons. “She underwent three devastating surgeries that strip you of your womanhood—a bilateral mastectomy, oophorectomy, and hysterectomy,” plastic surgeon, Dr. Samita Goyal, shared. “For me, the procedures were a no-brainer,” Simone recalled. Following the mastectomy, she decided to undergo reconstructive surgery using donor skin grafts.
While statistics show that black women are less likely to take breast cancer screenings or cancer prevention measures, Simone advises all women to act. “There are so many women whose hair I’ve cut, whose hands I’ve had to hold as they went through cancer,” she explained. “Taking preventative measures reminded me that I did have an option, and I want others to know that too.”
Today, Simone is feeling more confident than ever. A registered donor herself, she is grateful for her new body and for the gift of empowerment her donor has given her. The energetic social media influencer continues to use her platform to share her story and spread awareness. “I want to inspire everyone to be proactive, to take care of themselves,” Simone shared. “I’m excited that I did have a choice! I’m so thankful.”
“It was all happening very fast,” Simone said. Things moved even faster when she found out she was pregnant with her second child, a baby boy born with a cleft palate. After her son’s birth, Simone consulted with her surgeons. “She underwent three devastating surgeries that strip you of your womanhood—a bilateral mastectomy, oophorectomy, and hysterectomy,” plastic surgeon, Dr. Samita Goyal, shared. “For me, the procedures were a no-brainer,” Simone recalled. Following the mastectomy, she decided to undergo reconstructive surgery using donor skin grafts.
While statistics show that black women are less likely to take breast cancer screenings or cancer prevention measures, Simone advises all women to act. “There are so many women whose hair I’ve cut, whose hands I’ve had to hold as they went through cancer,” she explained. “Taking preventative measures reminded me that I did have an option, and I want others to know that too.”
Today, Simone is feeling more confident than ever. A registered donor herself, she is grateful for her new body and for the gift of empowerment her donor has given her. The energetic social media influencer continues to use her platform to share her story and spread awareness. “I want to inspire everyone to be proactive, to take care of themselves,” Simone shared. “I’m excited that I did have a choice! I’m so thankful.”
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MTF Biologics is a registered trademark of the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation.
MTF Biologics is a registered trademark of the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation.
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