7.4.24 Update

“It is with profound sadness that I share that our beloved Marlena has gone home to be with the Lord. She passed away yesterday morning. We held her hand, prayed with her, and told her we loved her. Please pray for her father and daughter.”     - Friends and Family

Funds raised will help cover her Celebration of Life expenses. 

_________

Meet Marlena, a native of Washington, D.C, a graduate of Thee Jackson State University and Richmont University, a mental health counselor, a loving daughter, a devoted single mother, and a friend to many, who now resides in Atlanta, GA.

In 2018, at the young age of 40, Marlena faced a life-altering challenge when diagnosed with stage III triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This diagnosis, however, didn't confine her. Instead, it sparked a fervent passion for advocacy and support for others in similar struggles. Amid her treatment in 2019, she ventured into advocacy, joining My Style Matters as a Volunteer Patient Advocate and later becoming a board member. Marlena expanded her influence by taking on roles such as Program Manager at GRASP (Guiding Researchers and Advocates to Scientific Partnerships), an advocate at TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation, and a Patient & Family Advisor at Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute. She is also a dynamic member of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS), working on policy changes through the Cancer Patient and Advocacy Team (CPAT). Her advocacy also spans to clinical trial accessibility, serving on the ASCO Clinical Trials Access and Inclusion Task Force.

After completing her treatment in 2020, Marlena returned to academia to pursue a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. During her final year, she faced another daunting challenge—a diagnosis of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Despite this, her resolve did not falter, and she graduated in May 2023 with specializations in Marriage & Family Therapy and Christian Sex Therapy. 

Today, Marlena's professional endeavors take her to downtown Atlanta, where she provides essential therapy services to the homeless, as well as breast cancer patients and survivors.

Marlena's narrative is a profound testament to resilience, advocacy, and compassion. She not only overcame personal setbacks but continues to drive narrative change, push for policy reforms, and positively impact the lives of those affected by cancer.

Recently, Marlena faced significant health challenges that led to an extended hospital stay of over two months. Currently, she is unable to work and is in need of financial support to manage her basic living expenses. If you are moved by Marlena's story and wish to assist her during this trying time, please consider making a donation to help her focus on her recovery.

Should you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at My Style Matters via email at Info@mystylematters.org.