Hello World! Today I want to start off by sharing an inspiring story from an “amazing woman” who happens to be my daughter in law! I am very proud of her. She is a true inspiration!

Getting to know: Karissa

It’s been nine years since native Houstonian Karissa moved to Phoenix, Arizona, but you wouldn’t know it from her commitment to & involvement with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. When she’s not spending time with her husband, Erik, & her two “miracle children,” this passionate cancer survivor dedicates her time to raising awareness of MD Anderson in Phoenix & lending a hand in the effort to end cancer back home as a member of MD Anderson’s Advance Team.

BY Allison Schaffer

Tell us about you and your family.
I’m an 11-year cancer survivor, proud wife & mother to two miracle children whom I owe, quite literally, to MD Anderson. I was born & raised in Houston, & for a long time, Texas was all I knew. I went to The University of Houston but then, nine years ago, my husband was transferred to Arizona — I couldn’t believe it! I was really nervous to move to Phoenix because I was treated in Houston, so it was a bit of a scary thing for me. Then ironically enough, MD Anderson partnered with a hospital here in Phoenix to open Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center!

How did you first come to know MD Anderson?
I always knew about MD Anderson growing up, living in Houston. I had a friend who was treated there for leukemia & I remember visiting him when I was 18. Unfortunately, he lost his fight with cancer & that was really my only experience until my own diagnosis.

I was diagnosed outside of MD Anderson at another institution. Before we moved forward with their plan, my husband & I thought to ourselves, “People from all over the world come to MD Anderson. Let’s go down there & hear what they have to say.” It was the best decision we ever made. From the people who valet your cars to the nursing staff to the volunteers, I mean they just really make the best of an unfortunate situation.

What set MD Anderson apart for you, as a patient?
I’ll never forget my chemo nurse. She told me that she’d been administering chemo for 25 years & I thought, “It’s going to be mundane, she’s not going to tell me what she’s doing, she’s been doing this for so long & she’s just going to go through the motions.” I was really young at the time. I was 30 & my husband & I had only been married 3 months. We were so scared & she sat down with us for probably three hours. She told me what she was doing when she accessed my port, what she was giving me, what it was called & what it was for, & just acted like we were the first patients she ever had. Little things like that show what we experienced the entire way. You just don’t find that in medicine, right? Medicine is medicine, medicine isn’t personal & MD Anderson does that. They make it personal & I’ll just never forget what she did for us.

Did anyone else help you along the way?
Right after I was diagnosed, I learned that my next door neighbor from growing up, who was also a member of the Advance Team, had had breast cancer a few years prior. I reached out to Jenee Bobbora when I was diagnosed & she told me, “You’re doing the best thing ever going to MD Anderson.” She helped me throughout my time at MD Anderson, & now I’m happy to say I can do the same for other patients & survivors.

How did you first get involved with the Advance Team?
After I was diagnosed with cancer, I told myself that I was going to do whatever I could to help advance the fight against it & find a cure. I wanted to be of service to the institution because I feel like I owe them that. That’s where my drive comes from.

You’ve been involved with several major initiatives at MD Anderson – including the 2016 Prom at MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital. How do you make such a big impact, from more than 1,000 miles away?
It’s just about talking to people & letting them see what’s close to your heart & what you try to do on the philanthropy side. Prom burst from an idea over a glass of wine & it wasn’t even an Advance Team member who came up with the idea! My husband went to high school with Thomas Nguyen, who has just opened his own South African restaurant, Peli Peli, in Houston. Thomas is very philanthropic – he reached out to Erik wanting to know more about MD Anderson & my affiliation with the institution. I reached out to Thomas & spoke to him about my role on the Advance Team and what we do to support the institution’s mission. He thought it was really important to give back to his community, particularly to a hospital that does so much locally.

Thomas & I started talking & brainstormed with David Herr & others involved with the Advance Team, & prom was born! It was amazing to see those kids experience getting their makeup done & putting on a beautiful dress. Prom was morphed from people getting together with the common goal of doing good & helping further the fight to end cancer – it’s as simple as that. Thomas did an incredible job & I am so proud of him!

You’ve also been involved with MD Anderson’s corporate alliances initiatives, correct?
Absolutely! I think MD Anderson’s corporate alliances are a great way to raise awareness of our fabulous institution across the country. I think it’s a great avenue. I helped host a Kendra Scott event here in Phoenix. It was really nice to get people out to the event & have them realize what MD Anderson is & what we’re trying to do. It was also great to let people know about Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center — MD Anderson right in their own backyard! Anytime I’m called upon by the institution to do something here in Phoenix, I do. & you can do the same in your own cities!

Three words to describe yourself?
Passionate. Infectious – in a good way! Smiling, because I wake up every day & I’m so glad to be here. I really & truly am.

What’s most important in life?
My family. I didn’t think I was going to get to have one. When I was diagnosed at 30, my doctors told me that having kids was going to be really tough. I’m so appreciative & thankful for the fact that I’m able to have a family.

Do you have any advice for Advance Team members looking to get more involved, whether they’re in Houston or elsewhere?
As a member of the Advance Team, you are a part of something amazing. What you do has the power to change the lives of patients, people & families to come. Ask lots of questions, & don’t be afraid because there are no bad questions. Your fellow Advance Team members are at your disposal, & the staff who work for the institution are a wealth of knowledge. We all have the same goal at the end of the day — to end cancer. You never know where the next idea is going to come from. Just be passionate about MD Anderson 7 people will see that & will want to help you.

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