During a routine self-examination in April 2021, Milton resident Erin O’Dell discovered a lump on her breast — which led to a diagnosis of triple positive breast cancer that July and an ensuing series of chemotherapy treatments.
Formerly an X-ray technologist at Cabell Huntington Hospital for 15 years, O’Dell responded to the diagnosis with cautious optimism at the outset.
“My husband and I both have worked in the medical fields, so we had a lot of experience,” she explained. “When I got diagnosed, we thought we knew what to expect, but what we thought was wrong. It’s harder to go through it than we thought it would be.”
O’Dell underwent six rounds of chemotherapy and 17 rounds of targeted therapy through last November at the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center in Huntington.
“I found it so early that I was Stage 1-A, which is a great prognosis for me,” she said. “A few years ago, it would have been a death sentence, but there has been so much progression in breast cancer treatment that there’s targeted therapy for that which leads to a much better prognosis. Early detection is 100% key.”
O’Dell, who now works at the Edward Jones Financial Advisor office in Milton, commended her employer, Nathan Gainer, for his unwavering support through her treatment. “I have a boss who was 100% supportive, through my doctor’s appointments and everything else. He’s just been amazing to work for through this long journey,” she said.
She also spoke effusively about the Edwards medical professionals. “I received amazing care at the cancer center. The doctors, oncologists, surgeons, and staff all celebrated in my joy and triumphs and supported me when I was having a bad day. I didn’t feel I had just a doctor/patient relationship — I felt like I was a real person with them, and I didn’t have to travel somewhere else to find top-notch care in this area, which was great.
“I’m very passionate about breast cancer, because all of this really opened my eyes to different things. To live life differently, to be more hopeful, more joyful, more appreciative of all of the true blessings I have day to day and not to take things for granted.”
Her cancer now in remission, four weeks ago, O’Dell launched Wrapped in Hope, a nonprofit venture that creates and sells a specially designed shirt for breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Each shirt has a zippered collar that makes it easier for wearers to access their mediports during their treatments.
Her Aunt Leoda made several of the garments for O’Dell to wear during her chemo treatment sessions, which led to the inspiration for Wrapped in Hope. O’Dell’s husband, Bryan, encouraged her to delve into the nonprofit, and their daughter, Zoey, designed the Wrapped in Hope logo.
“I wanted to do something to help people who are going through what I went through,” O’Dell said. “I’m calling them chemo kits. We are going to provide a shirt I have partners helping me with, and I have a friend who makes goat milk soap who’s going to put bars of them in the kits. I’m making a little ‘cancer card’ with jokes and encouragement for them, along with a few little odds and ends to help them get through this,” O’Dell said.
“I try to talk it about this everywhere I am. I am truly, really passionate about it.”
On the Wrapped in Hope Facebook page, O’Dell wrote, “We need funding. Each ‘kit’ that I want to put together costs approximately $20, and I would like to have 100 kits by March of 2023. We also need folks who can sew.”
She received her West Virginia business license for Wrapped in Hope on Sept. 14. At press time, she is awaiting word from the IRS regarding her application for 501©3 nonprofit status for her enterprise.
Additional information is available on the Facebook page, @wrappedinhopewv. To order or inquire about the chemo kits, make donations to Wrapped in Hope or volunteer to help assemble kits, contact O’Dell by email at WrappedInHope@yahoo.com.
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