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Tigerlily Foundation is there for you from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond.

From the time you're diagnosed and need someone to talk to we are there for you, we help you to navigate the healthcare system and decipher the medical jargon.  We are not health practitioners and are not meant to replace the advice of your healthcare practitioner, but to help make this process more understandable and easier for you.

We provide practical services to assist you and your family (cleaning, groceries, meals, financial assistance), while you're undergoing surgery and chemo.  We can provide a chemo a buddy for you and a support group for you and your family. 

We're here to pamper you and remind you that no matter what you're going through, you're all woman, and when you're done with your treatments, we provide you regular health updates, education, tips and empowerment through our monthly newsletters and seminars. 

We also encourage you to become an advocate for change, so that you can now use your life to empower, educate and support others, and perhaps, save a life.

Chemotherapy Buddy Program

As part of my cancer treatment, I underwent four months of chemotherapy, before doing radiation. Four months might seem like a blip on the screen of life to some people, but to the one diagnosed and the people who love them, every day is grueling.

Chemotherapy is physically, emotionally and mentally draining. I was fortunate enough to have very attentive, compassionate oncology nurses to take care of me. Although the reason I was there was not pleasant, they made my time there comfortable and warm. I felt very cared for. I was also blessed to connect with other oncology patients who were undergoing chemotherapy as well. What struck me was that many of them went alone to chemotherapy and drove themselves home. Some of them had no help once they got home.

As someone who was undergoing chemotherapy, it hurt my heart to know that there were people who had little or no support. I was fortunate enough to have a chemo “team”, who took care of me during that time. My Aunt and my friend Teresa were my major chemo buddies. One of them was with me every time. My brothers and other friends and family joined them at times. One brother took me for my shots the day after chemo and the other took me to doctor appointments, ran my errands, got the mail and dropped my bills in the mail. The other brother made sure I had an endless supply of popsicles. Other friends brought food, cards, books, journals, and tapes. My mother always made sure I had a fresh supply of sushi when I got home. She also slept in bed with me, holding my hand at night when I was scared or rocking me when I cried. My daughter gave me lots of kisses and made sure to always check my temperature. Co-workers brought gifts, cards and an endless supply of laughs.

Having this much support, it was unimaginable to me that some people were alone at such a time. After one day of chemo, I lay in bed, and the Chemotherapy Buddy Program was born.

The program provides oncology patients with a volunteer who will take them to chemo, stay with them all day and drive them home after treatment. Based on the patient’s need, the volunteer will also provide a meal and spend time with the patient, run errands, etc. The goal is to make sure that the patient has companionship, support, and know that they are cared for.

By Summer 2008, the ChemoBuddy Program will also provide patients with grocery delivery, meal, cleaning and babysitting services.

To get a ChemoBuddy, please contact us (see contact page). Provide your location, chemotherapy date, time and schedule. Also, let us know if there are additional needs you have. Someone from our organization will contact you within 48 hours.

Tigerlily Survivor Support Group

There are a lot of life changes that occur after cancer.  Survivors often have concerns about the way we view ourselves, how we identify with other people, concerns about, treatment side effects, lifespan, concerns about children, partners, dating, and all physical and emotional issues that arise after diagnosis, surgery and treatment.

Part of Tigerlily's mission is to provide survivors a forum to connect and offer support to one another. With this in mind, the Tigerlily Breast Cancer Survivors Group was born.

We have monthly teleconferences to support, educate and empower women affected by cancer and their families.  The conference calls feature a guest speaker, who will provide information pertaining to breast cancer, then callers will have a chance to ask questions, converse, movitate and offer support each other.  Contact us at supportgroup@tigerlilyfoundation.org to sign up or get more information.

We recognize that breast affects the entire family and community of the loved one.  So, whether you are a survivor, undergoing treatment, family member or friend of someone who has or had breast cancer, or if you lost someone dear to the disease, you are welcome to attend.

You can also join our yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tigerlilysurivorgroup. Until we meet, be blessed and love life!
Please contact us at (703) 869-9462 for more information.

Funds for Families

Often, families don’t anticipate plan for crises such as breast cancer. Even in instances where families have insurance, there are often a
multitude of related costs that leave them in a financial bind. There are also instances where a patient has such low income that she has to make a choice between seeking medical attention that could save her life, paying for medication that would make the treatment more bearable or paying bills. When facing a life threatening challenge such as breast cancer, finances should be the least of one’s problems. The Funds for Families program gives financial assistance to families based on their need. Our team carefully evaluates each situation before appropriating funds.

Project Liberia

For over 16 years, the country of Liberia has been devastated by civil war. In 2006, the first fair and free election was held in over a decade. Liberia elected the first female President in Africa. The country is now in a state of rehabilitation; however, due to many years of civil war and destruction of infrastructure, many people are still very focused on their survival, making ends meet and rebuilding their lives. For some, breast cancer is not a concern, but it should be. Tigerlily is working with local hospitals, manufacturers and partner organizations to send mammogram and ultrasound machines, videos, literature and resources to hospitals and other facilities so women can get the breast care that they need. We will also be setting up classes where women can learn more about breast health. Eventually, Tigerlily will set up a breast health facility in Liberia.

In December of 2007, Tigerlily Foundation, donated and delivered a mammogram machine to Liberia.  Click here to view the press release.

Tigerlily's Fabulous Females

Tigerlily's Fearless Females was created to ensure that newly diagnosed patients celebrate their lives every day.  After getting diagnosed with breast cancer, most women fully realize the blessings in life and start to really appreciate the beauty and importance of living our best lives now.

As rigorous as treatment can be, we want all of our future survivors to keep their eyes on the prize, and that is recognizing that we are alive now, and so we must seize the moment. Tigerlily's Fabulous Females do just that, live fabulously. We make sure that the newly diagnosed are treated as fabulously as they are.  While undergoing treatment, we offer ladies ways to get pampered. This could include a makeover, shopping spree, dinner, massage, gift certificates and a Tigerlily gift bag with goodies.

This program also helps make dreams come true for women who are metastatic.  Sometimes, we do not realize how amazing life is and it takes something drastic to make us sit up and listen.  In the case of women who are metastatic, and who might not have the gift of time, Tigerlily gives them a gift they will never forget.   Send us your story or the story of someone you love, a list of their wildest dreams and we will make one of them come true.

Young Survival Coalition

The Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is the only international, non-profit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to the concerns and issues that are unique to young women and breast cancer. Through action, advocacy and awareness, the YSC seeks to educate the medical, research, breast cancer and legislative communities and to persuade them to address breast cancer in women 40 and under. The YSC also serves as a point of contact for young women living with breast cancer.

The organization was founded by three young breast cancer survivors in 1998. All under the age of 35 at diagnosis, they were discouraged by the lack of information and resources available to young women, and concerned about the under-representation of young women in breast cancer studies.

Unlike their post-menopausal counterparts, young women diagnosed with breast cancer face higher mortality rates, fertility issues and the possibility and ramifications of early menopause. The YSC seeks to change the face of breast cancer by: advocating to increase the number of studies about young women and breast cancer; educating young women about the importance of breast self-examination and early detection; and being a point of contact for other young women with breast cancer.

As a member of YSC’s Diversity Outreach Committee, Maimah works as part of a Community Volunteer Group (CVG) doing outreach to the local community. The main focus of the CVG is to connect with young women affected by breast cancer and to do YSC programs locally. One of the programs encouraged by the CVG is to “Adopt a Hospital”. This program involves “adopting” a local hospital, providing them with YSC materials, resources and doing outreach.

If you would like to be a part of the CVG and help plan/coordinate activities, please contact us.

Project Gratitude

Fully living one’s life in the present, and in the face of any challenge requires making gratitude an every day part of your life. Sometimes the blessing you seek in the future is just waiting to be actualized, once you thank the Universe for the blessings in the present. Gratitude is appreciating and thanking God for the good things you have in your life right now, and using that positive energy to create an even better future. Project Gratitude is just that…a project that will encourage all people to be thankful in the now.

Tigerlily Mammogram Program

Early detection and prevention are critical to breast cancer treatment. This program endeavors to provide free mammograms for women who do not have insurance or are of low-income.

Women’s Health Seminars (WHS)

Tigerlily Foundation recognized the need for a forum to provide women in geographically dispersed locations with breast and other health
information.This program is a global women's health information provider and forum,in a monthly presentation and teleconference format. We provide information and resources on all women’s health wellness issues. Visit www.womenshealthseminars.com.

A Day of Beauty

A Day of Beauty is designed to bring pampering and relaxation to women who are undergoing treatment and who are survivors of breast cancer.

This is a full day event where we bring together beauty practitioners, make-up artists, yoga instructors, masseuses, and other vendors and invite women to a day of “taking care of you”.  Women can get fitted for wigs, get manicures and pedicures, massages, facials, do yoga exercises learn about aromatherapy, and other ways to relax and heal, during and after breast cancer.  This event is an oasis of healing, creating “wellness” energy and connecting.