Most people associate Friday the 13th with bad luck, but for me, it marks the day two extraordinary surgeons—Dr. Mona Mazgani and Dr. Trevor Cohen—saved my life. Because of their skill, compassion, and dedication, I’m here today as a mother, a wife, and a survivor. Every day, I’m reminded of their care—it fuels a profound sense of purpose for me. My story is not just one of survival, but of deep gratitude and a commitment to strengthening women’s healthcare on Vancouver Island, so that every woman has access to the same hope, expertise, and healing that I received.

My journey began with a routine checkup—my family doctor noticed I was overdue for a Pap test. That small act of diligence set off a chain of events that would ultimately save my life. I was referred to Victoria General Hospital, where I met Dr. Trevor Cohen. He performed a LEEP procedure to remove and test abnormal tissue from my cervix. The results came back positive.

I’ll never forget the day my husband, Vincent, and I received the diagnosis: stage 2 cervical cancer. Our daughter, Sophie, was away at camp. We sat together in silence, we cried, holding each other as the weight of the news settled in, and then we began to plan. The hardest part of the journey came next, telling my sixth-grade daughter her mama had cancer.

My deepest fears weren’t for myself—they were for Sophie. How would she handle the news? What if I die, will someone else be able to take care of her the way I do? Is my cancer hereditary, could I pass it on to her? How can I protect her from a similar diagnosis?

When Sophie got home, we sat down together as a family and shared the news with her. We were honest and explained that I had cancer. Then I told her something that made it real in the best possible way. Her friend Rayan’s mom—Dr. Mazgani—was going to take care of me. Rayan and Sophie have been in school together since kindergarten. In that moment, it became more than medicine. It became personal, someone from our own community, someone we trusted, was walking this path with us.

That sense of trust only deepened when Vincent and I met with Dr. Mazgani. She took the time to explain everything clearly—so our overwhelmed hearts and minds could truly understand. She sat with us, held my hands and with confidence said, “let’s take care of this,” and that’s exactly what she and Dr. Cohen did.

I underwent life saving surgery on Friday, December 13, 2019. It was the first day of Christmas vacation for my daughter and just days before Dr. Mazgani was to leave on her own family vacation. She made it a priority to fit my surgery in before she left. That morning, Dr. Mazgani introduced me to the entire team in the operating room. She explained what would happen. She helped calm my nerves and made me feel seen—not as a case, but as a person.

Together, Dr. Mazgani and Dr. Cohen performed a radical hysterectomy, removing my uterus, cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes and the surrounding tissue. But they didn’t just remove the cancer—they carried my family and me through one of the most frightening times in our lives with warmth, skill, and empathy.

It was an emotional and overwhelming time for me. I wasn’t just processing the diagnosis—I was grieving the loss of my ability to have more children.

Today, I am healthy and cancer-free. This experience is now in my rearview mirror, but it’s never out of sight. I often think about the women just beginning their own journeys—those sitting with their daughters trying to find the right words, and those praying for answers and hope.

The need is growing. In the past decade, gynecologic cancers have nearly doubled—more women are facing these life changing conversations, and more families are being impacted.

Fifteen years ago, this kind of advanced care wasn’t available on Vancouver Island. Dr. Mazgani changed that.

Now, she, Dr. Cohen, and Dr. Stephanie Lee are doing everything they can to meet the increasing needs of women in our community.

I shared my story at the Foundation’s 2025 Miracle Gala, and I am sharing my story today because of the remarkable compassion and care I received from these doctors; but they need our support to keep up with the demand and to keep advancing women’s care on Vancouver Island. It’s our turn to show up for them.

I am grateful to the generous donors in our community whose support ensures that advanced surgical tools and diagnostic equipment are available. It was donors who placed the first advanced diagnostic tool in Dr. Mazgani’s hands 15 years ago—and it is donors who will continue to put life-saving equipment into the hands of skilled surgeons, giving more women a future.

Together, we are changing the story—for me, for my daughter, and for every woman on the Island who will walk this path.