YOLO Spotlight - Gayle Norman Barry from Thriving Pink!
About 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
While that fact sinks in, think about the people in your life. Chances are you know someone who has had to deal with breast cancer or possibly even you yourself has fought this battle at some point in time. If you are ever diagnosed, at some point in your journey with breast cancer, one of your calls should be to Thriving Pink.
Thriving Pink is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to helping those in Yolo County who have been impacted by breast cancer. Their services and resources are dedicated to helping those facing breast cancer, and those who have conquered their cancer, to thrive amid a network of compassion and partnership.
As chair of the Mentoring Program and a board member, Gayle Norman Barry is passionate about giving back to help others through this difficult time in their life by sharing her story and offering encouragement and support.
FUN FACT #1
Gayle grew up in Bozeman, Montana and is still a partner in her family’s cattle and wheat ranch that was originally settled by her great grandfather. Her background, and her degree from Montana State University, has led to a career with the United States Department of Agriculture, specifically with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The NRCS works with private landowners to implement conservation practices to improve the nation’s water, soil, habitat, and air quality on private lands. Gayle has worked for the agency in Oregon, Arizona, California and Washington, D. C. Gayle’s expertise in developing national programs, having strategic and legislative know-how, and having the roll-up-your sleeves and get to work ranch work ethic has made her a valuable board member in the Thriving Pink organization.
FUN FACT #2
Gayle had her annual mammogram yet found a painful lump in her breast nine months later. It was discovered she had the most aggressive form of breast cancer (triple negative) that is harder to treat and has a low survivor rate. Yet here she is five years later, free of cancer and grateful she is able to help others navigate through the very individualized experience of breast cancer. Initially, she kept quiet about her diagnosis because she didn’t want others to give her that “look” that people give someone who says they have cancer. Or possibly they wouldn’t think of her as much of a professional as they used to. Then Gayle realized that there were others also going through cancer, or other difficulties, who benefitted from her being open and upfront about the struggle. So she started speaking up.
Gayle likens breast cancer to COVID-19 in that you sometimes can’t predict who gets it and who doesn’t or who suffers a more severe case and who doesn’t. Everyone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer asks themselves what they did to get this, because you don’t want to go through it again. And many times there is no answer to that question.
FUN FACT #3
Gayle’s diagnosis in the spring of 2017 forced her to take a hard look at her life and reassess her priorities. She has always been career driven because she is passionate about conservation, but the two hour commute to work and the necessary travel left less time for her to focus on her health. Gayle decided to take a step back, focus more on her family, and fortunately, after she was done with her chemo, radiation, and surgery, was able to transfer to California. Her family loves the area, her daughter is thriving and an article about Thriving Pink in the newspaper led her to volunteer. Gayle felt that her family was more scared than she was and she was determined to be brave for them, but she has always been a fighter! She fought to go to college, she has held her own in a male dominated profession, and she felt like a warrior as she beat breast cancer. (Hence the pink tutu and combat boots!)
Want to know about Thriving Pink?
1. The most important part of Thriving Pink is the realization that no one is in this alone. There are other survivors always willing to reach out and lend a hand. Gayle found chemo to be tiring and, from talking with others, realized she needed to take it one step at a time and fight each battle as it comes. She feels more strength now and continually finds herself learning more and more every day. Every one is different and may need different services or resources. Some may want to talk about their experience during the process, some find it difficult talk about even 20 years later.
2. Whatever you need, Thriving Pink has it! Getting outside for a walk with others? Check! Peer-to-peer mentoring? Check! Zoom meet ups? Check! A speaker series to keep up with experts in the field? Check! Financial resources for those in need? Check! There is even the Stitches of Love group who sew quilts and seat belt pillows for those who need them. Comfort bags? Check! Workshops, an annual retreat, and a spring gala? Check, check, and check! An emerging outreach in Spanish? Check again! Not bad for a volunteer organization!
3. Five years from now, Thriving Pink would like to be providing services and resources to an even larger group through expanded outreach. For now, they hope the Pink Gala on April 22 will once again be a fun way to celebrate their volunteers and community partners. Though the survival rate for breast cancer and the treatments offered are better than ever, the diagnosis still feels like a death sentence to those who hear it. Fortunately for those diagnosed in Yolo County there is a place to go to find a group of women who understand and are there to help in every way from the initial diagnosis throughout your entire journey. As Gayle says, a strong base of support can have positive lifelong impacts.
KLJ Studios has partnered with Thriving Pink to raise funds by donating a portion of the profit from boudoir (and family!) photo sessions done through February. As Gayle reminded us, many women are in charge of making sure family photos get taken and sometimes do not manage to actually appear in them. But when the camera focused on her during her personal photo session she suddenly felt like a warrior.
In Gayle’s words: In reflecting on my own photo session--it was one of the top 10 best things I have ever done for myself as a woman, wife, and breast cancer survivor. I was a little nervous going in (not many things more unsexy than breast cancer in this life) and I came out of that so filled with joy. My husband who has stuck with me through those super scary days now has an amazing thank you! But for us--I took a photo in my Thriving Pink Shirt, a pink tulle skirt and combat boots! (Note: Once a warrior woman, always a warrior woman!)
Find out more about Thriving Pink here: https://www.thrivingpink.org/