Natalie Laughs Her Way Through Breast Cancer

On January 22, 2020, Natalie Stanfield was informed that she had become a member of a club that no one volunteers to join. After a routine mammogram, doctors had identified and biopsied “areas of concern” in each breast. Then, Natalie got the news: she has bi-lateral breast cancer.” With those words she became the latest inductee to The Pink Ribbon Sisterhood.

If you know Natalie - either in person or virtually - you know that her sense of humor and attitude will carry her through. Thus, we have dubbed ourselves: Natalie's Laugh Squad. We are Maria Pendolino, Bev Standing and Fran McClellan - representing the wider VO community in running point for Natalie's fundraising. 

What we know so far:
-An MRI showed the cancer is confined to the areas identified in the mammogram. It was caught early and genetic testing came back negative for BRCA.
-Natalie will have a double mastectomy on March 12 with reconstruction using latissimus dorsi muscles.
-If all goes well, she does NOT need to endure chemotherapy!
-These options are supposed to have greater success at getting all the cancer, have less risk, and better recovery than some other choices
-Unfortunately, since they’ll be moving Natalie's lats to her front, her aspirations of becoming an octogenarian body builder have now been greatly diminished.…What?!? she's losing her boobs - not her sense of humor! "A Fond Farewell to the Fun Bags" came in as a close second for the name of this campaign. 

Natalie is funny, kind, generous and a treasured member of every community she is a part of. She would give you the shirt off her back and the bacon from her mouth - and would be the last person to ask for help. So, that's why we are doing it for her!

If you don't know Natalie personally, here are a few key things we'd like you to know!
-Natalie is a strong and powerful influence to the VO community
-She is inspiring to others
-Natalie is a dedicated single mom to her wonderful children
-She is a hardworking member of the staff of a small Christian radio station in the Southerntier of New York.
-She runs a thriving freelance voiceover business


Here's a few things we're hoping to help Natalie with by fundraising through GoFundMe:

-Help defray the cost of Natalie's healthcare deductible - about $14,000
-Extra money for living expenses while she is unable to work during her surgery and post-op recovery time. (A few months)
-Money to purchase new clothes, comfy lounge wear and undergarments that will be easier to wear post-lat surgery including front close bras, pajamas and shirts. 
-Funds to support ongoing healing and medical needs including things like physical and massage therapy, holistic & prescription medications and supplements, copays for appointments with specialists
-A little cushion and emergency fund to help ease her mind

Thank you for keeping Natalie in your thoughts, prayers, juju rituals - you name it. Even if you can't contribute financially - sharing the page, boosting the signal and keeping her in your thoughts makes a world of difference!