June’s Volunteer of the Month carrie Mattola

Our Volunteer for the Month of June is Carrie Mattola!

Unfortunately, Carrie was introduced to breast cancer at a very young age. “My very first childhood memory was helping my Mom carry tea and toast to my Grandmother’s bedroom. She was dying from breast cancer. Growing up I watched how much her passing affected my Mom.” So in January of 2019 when Carrie was diagnosed, she wanted to do whatever she had to do to ensure that her three children didn’t experience that pain, choosing to have a bilateral mastectomy. Though she had a tough couple years going through surgeries, Carrie is thankful she didn’t need chemo or radiation. 

412Thrive’s Wellness Retreat was Carrie’s first experience with the organization. “It wasn’t until then that I realized that even though I did whatever was necessary to protect my kids from worrying about their mom having cancer, I wasn’t making sure that I was dealing with it myself. Listening to the stories of so many strong, inspiring, amazing women, and being able to open up about the impact that cancer had on me was a life changing experience. It’s difficult to even put into words how incredible it is to have your feelings validated by someone who has had the same experiences.”

When it comes to what 412Thrive means to Carrie she said, “412Thrive and the awesome women who I now call my friends, have brought me peace, calm and a true understanding of how to navigate life after breast cancer. I am truly grateful for you all.”

Thank you Carrie for all that you do! You’re fabulous!