PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Virginia Wettlaufer Tomenson, Cancer Survivor and Patient Advocate
2:13:36
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132 sec
Virginia Wettlaufer Tomenson, a cancer survivor and New York City resident for 21 years, shares her personal experience with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) and expresses strong support for the proposed new Pavilion. She recounts her journey from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship, highlighting the crucial role MSK played in her care and recovery.
- Diagnosed with triple positive stage 3 breast cancer at age 31, Virginia chose MSK for her treatment despite family being in Buffalo
- Her treatment plan included surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, which affected her ability to have children naturally
- Virginia now volunteers at MSK, helping other patients navigate their cancer journeys
- She views the proposed Pavilion as an important expansion that will benefit future patients
Virginia Wettlaufer Tomenson
2:13:36
Thank you.
2:13:38
Hi.
2:13:38
My name is Virginia Wetlawford Thomason, and I have been a New York City resident for the last 21 years.
2:13:45
Over a decade ago, I was a healthy, successful thirty one year old New Yorker.
2:13:51
I was then diagnosed with triple positive stage 3 breast cancer.
2:13:56
My family was in Buffalo, but my young adult life was in New York City, and the questions of where to be treated and cared for became real.
2:14:04
Even with these challenges, my family and I had no doubt that memorial song Kettering was the right choice.
2:14:10
My team and I crafted a plan to attack my cancer, a plan that involved surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and unfortunately meant that I would never be able to carry a baby.
2:14:23
The chemo would cause irreversible damage to my ex that would make carrying a pregnancy impossible.
2:14:30
My life was changing before my eyes.
2:14:33
At this traumatic moment, MSK became my safe haven, guiding me through treatment, fertility preservation, and now continuing through a survivorship.
2:14:46
In January of 2013, after radiation treatment at the main campus, I was informed by one of the nurses that my doctor needed to see me.
2:14:56
Never something you really wanna hear.
2:14:59
I entered an exam room though to find a full of rose petals and my now husband down on his knee saying this place saved your life.
2:15:08
You are the love of my life, will you marry me?
2:15:12
12 years later, my husband and I have 2 beautiful children born via gestational carrier and reside blocks away from MSK on the upper east side.
2:15:22
I spend much of my time bound hearing throughout the various facilities of MSK, talking to patients, helping them navigate the complexities of processing their life changes.
2:15:35
The message I have taken out of my journey was always to make someone else's tomorrow better than my yesterday.
2:15:42
It is with that affirmation that I wholeheartedly support MSK's proposed new Pavilion.