Every year, Presbyterian Village North (PVN) hosts its Thrivers Breakfast—a meaningful gathering where nearly 20 women, both residents and teammates, come together to reflect on their shared journey through breast cancer. This year’s event promises to be even more special as technology steps in to create a powerful connection between the PVN community and a local breast cancer survivor, Karena Tsai, who will join their circle of support for the first time.
At just 29 years old, Karena’s story is one of resilience. Diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in September 2022, she faced a whirlwind of treatments, including chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Now a few months into remission, Karena is on the path to recovery and eagerly anticipating her 30th birthday, which will mark both a personal milestone and a celebration of beating cancer.
The connection between PVN and Karena began with a simple segment on Good Morning America. The PVN team learned about WeGotThis.org, a platform designed to help cancer patients and those in remission create wish lists for items that can help them in their recovery. Intrigued, the Community Life team explored the site and found Karena’s registry. Through the magic of technology, what could have been a distant story became personal. Karena’s wish list and her journey resonated with the purpose of the breakfast. They reached out, and Karena responded with enthusiasm that she would attend.
In addition to recovering physically, Karena, a first-generation Taiwanese American and talented graphic designer, is on a journey to rediscover herself mentally and emotionally. “Mentally, I’ve felt a little bit lost, trying to re-discover what I want my life to look like post-cancer,” she admits. But we hope the connection forged with PVN will provide her new hope and excitement, allowing her to connect with other women who have faced similar challenges.
Thanks to WeGotThis.org and the technology that brought them together, Karena will now be part of this Wednesday’s Thrivers Breakfast. Though she may be meeting these women for the first time, they already share an unspoken bond. The residents and teammates at PVN are taking it one step further by purchasing items from her registry, supporting her in the same way they would one of their own—by giving her the things she wished she could have afforded during her cancer treatments.
“I think I just stumbled upon WeGotThis from a Google search! I was looking for something to build a wish list out of to send to my friends and family, as I’ll be celebrating my 30th birthday in a few weeks! The party will be doubling as a ‘beat cancer’ celebration, so it’s all very exciting.” Karena said.
As Karena steps into this new chapter of life, turning 30 as both a cancer survivor and thriver, she carries with her a message of hope and gratitude: “Cheers to a new decade as a survivor—no, scratch that, a thriver!”
Thanks to technology, PVN’s Thrivers Breakfast this year is more than just a gathering—it’s a testament to the power of connection, support and the shared strength of women who refuse to let cancer define them.
