We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Carrie Madrid. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Carrie below.
Carrie, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear how you think where to draw the line in terms of asking friends and family to support your business – what’s okay and what’s over the line?
Asking my friends and family to support my nonprofit was a little uncomfortable at first. I wasn’t even sure I knew what or how I was going to help cancer patients financially, but I knew I had to try. Once I explained my own experience, vision and mission, everyone I asked for support happily supported me starting the nonprofit and most have continued to financially support as well.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
Today, I can confidently say that my stage III breast cancer diagnosis saved my life! In 2012, after just turning 41 years old, I was diagnosed with two forms of breast cancer, which ultimately changed the entire trajectory of my life for the better. In 2012, I was a divorced single mom to 3 and working hard to make ends meet. When I wasn’t working, I was at the high school volunteering as the booster president of the girls’ basketball program. I loved working with the teens and raising funds to help them purchase new uniforms and other necessities. I also loved preparing team meals and running snack bar during games. Some said I was obsessed with high school basketball for many years. I was working hard to get as strong and fit as possible, even walking up my local mountain at least once per day to stay active.
During one of my walks around the mountain, I remember asking my creator, “What else am I supposed to do with my life?” I knew my first priority was to be a mom but what else? My kids would all be adults soon and I would only be around 46 years old. There had to be more to life than just working. Be careful what you wish for. Just a couple of weeks after that walk, I rolled over in bed to find two lumps in my left breast. My very first mammogram, day after turning 41, revealed infiltrating ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ. I couldn’t just get one form of cancer. Nope! Ultimately, I was diagnosed Stage III.
My treatment plan was 1.) Mastectomy 2.) the most aggressive regimen of chemotherapy for my diagnosis 3.) five weeks of radiation and reconstruction would begin about a year later. I was fortunate to work for a medical company, from home and therefore took the least number of days off of work so I could keep the bulk of my income. As a single mom, with very little financial support, I lived check to check with nothing extra. Even with good health insurance, I had so many copays for office visits and medications that I was worried. I was blessed to have family members who helped me financially, so I didn’t really have to worry about how I was going to feed my teens or purchase prom dresses or the like. My dad was ready, willing and able to help financially, and my mom helped with tasks around my house such as cleaning and laundry, when I was unable. My young adult son, who was serving in the United States Air Force was sent back to the United States from Korea where he could assist on the weekends as needed. He actually went with me to my first chemotherapy treatment and also accompanied me when they removed the drains from my chest following mastectomy. My kids were 23, 15 and 13 when I was diagnosed, and I sometimes feel guilty for all they’ve had to endure and witness as a result of my diagnosis.
Like other cancer patients, I found myself networking with others in active treatment in online support groups or even in the waiting room or infusion center. I was shocked to hear so many were choosing between a $100 copay for treatment or purchasing $100 worth of groceries for their kids. I also heard about those choosing NOT to have radiation because their out-of-pocket cost was going to be $4,000. No one should have to choose between life-saving treatments or basic necessities such as groceries, rent and utilities. This is when I decided I had to take action. I did some research to find local organizations that help patients with financial needs, and I could not find one that was providing financial support unless you were terminally ill. I convinced my best friend Christina to be my co-founder and The CARE Project, Inc. was formed. We became a 501c3 public charity in 2014 and our motto is “never stop caring.” We realize that support shouldn’t stop when you are no longer in active treatment. We realize that survivorship is often the most challenging time in a patient’s life. Everyone thinks you’re fine and “back to normal” when treatment is completed but it’s quite the opposite. That is usually when the aftermath of all you’ve just endured hits you. PTSD and anxiety are very much an issue in those who have survived cancer.
The CARE Project (TCP) provides emotional and financial support to all diagnosed with breast cancer as we believe this is NOT a woman’s disease but rather a human disease. 1 in 8 women and 1 in 833 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. (United States) We have a Survivor Social Club that meets every other month in a peer to peer setting to encourage, inspire, educate and support one another. We have an English group, Spanish group and Metastatic group. We also have mentors available nationwide who can support a newly diagnosed patient in between our group socials. Financially, we provide assistance with copays, utilities, rent and other necessities that become luxuries when not working full time due to cancer treatments and recovery. In addition to the emotional and financial support, we also provide compression sleeves to those managing lymphedema by way of a partnership with LympheDIVAS.
After sharing about our Survivor Social Club on social media, we often received comments like, “I wish there was a CARE Project in my area!” One of our social club members, Margaret Lesh, is an accomplished author and two-time survivor and she proposed we create a handbook that we all wished we had when diagnosed. We published our book, Handle With CARE; Or Your Breast Cancer Support Group in a Book which you can find on Amazon or our website. You hear from 12 people who were diagnosed with breast cancer, including a male patient. 100% of the proceeds from this book are donated to The CARE Project. We hope to obtain sponsorship so we can provide hospitals, treatment centers and oncology offices with this book for as many patients as possible. We decided to create a podcast to extend our reach and Handle With CARE; Cancer and Beyond was born. This podcast gives those affected by cancer a place to keep it real about their experience without toxic positivity or the pressure to “fight” cancer. You can listen to the show on all podcast platforms and our YouTube channel as we are beginning to film our show and upload there as well.
In the 8 years of running The CARE Project, I have lost too many friends and clients to metastatic breast cancer. I’ve learned that I am much more comfortable working those preparing to die than I am those who are newly diagnosed. I love helping someone find peace with their situation and navigating tough conversations with their loved ones as they prepare to die. I enrolled in an online school and became a Certified CareDoula, also known as a Death Doula in 2022. Just like a birth doula helps a woman prepare to give birth, I support patients as they prepare to die. I also provide respite care and support to the loved ones caring for the dying. My business Care and Beyond Consulting, LLC was born to provide the Doula services and more. You can visit carriemadrid.com for more information.
Never in my life did I even envision myself to be a Founder and CEO of a nonprofit or a Death Doula with an LLC but here I am. I am most proud of taking my own diagnosis and doing so much good with it. Not only am I making a positive impact in my community, but I am living a purposeful life and will leave a legacy of compassion, caring and philanthropy that I hope my kids and grandkids will be very proud of and inspired by.
Have you ever had to pivot?
When the pandemic hit, my nonprofit took a huge hit as our main source of fundraising was an annual gala and other special events. With the complete shutdown, hosting events was no longer an option. We have a CARE Club of monthly donors and some of them either lost their jobs, divorced or had other changes in their lives which caused them to have to cancel their monthly donations or greatly reduce them. We were fortunate to obtain some grant money to fulfill our lease but knew we had to pivot to keep providing support to those affected by breast cancer.
In July of 2022, we closed our office and moved operations back to my home, where it all began. My youngest child had moved out, so I converted her room into an office for me and my assistant and finished by garage to create a podcast studio and meeting space. It turned out to be a great decision as our social club members love meeting in my home, which makes it even more personal. This also works much better for me personally. You see, I lost most of my vision in my left eye due to advanced keratoconus and I can no longer drive. I also still work full time for the medical company, from my home. Having my full time job, my LLC and nonprofit all under one roof is the best fit for me and we’ve continued to receive support from our biggest funder as they know us personally and the impact we are making, whether we have an official office or not.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Often, I’m asked how The CARE Project obtains clients who need support. I have built relationships with oncology departments at local hospitals, social workers and patient navigators that all refer patients to us as a resource for emotional, financial and doula support. We are also part of the Inland Empire Access to Cancer Care Coalition where we share resources with other organizations so that we can share patients. This ensures the patient can obtain support from as many organizations as possible. Collaborating with others to fill in the gaps of supportive services is crucial.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thecareprojectinc.org and www.carriemadrid.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecareprojectinc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecareprojectinc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecareprojectinc.606
- Other: To book Carrie as a podcast guest or guest speaker, please email [email protected]