It’s a funny thing about breast cancer. The disease isn’t picky. It doesn’t care if you were young or old, good or bad or even a woman. It just grinds away creating devastation in lives, whether it’s the patient’s, the family’s or future generations.
That’s why the 2018 Celebrating Women Luncheon patron party on Tuesday, October 16, at Sara and Ross Perot Jr.’s home-sweet-home was a come-together with veterans, newbies and their families to soldier on for the battle with the deadly disease.
Looking at blonde beauties like Leslie Gosnell and 2018 Lindalyn Bennett Adams Awardee Karla McKinley, it was hard to connect the moment that their doctors told them they had been drafted in the battle with breast cancer, with the women they were on this night.
The Perots’ brilliantly beautiful home — “classy and understated,” one guest called it — was filled with those who had been there for their family members and friends … about 110 of them, in fact. For instance? There was Jack Gosnell, who despite his non-stopping neon smile, had supported his wife Leslie throughout her treatment.
But the night was not just to recall breast cancer battles. It was also to celebrate the upcoming 2018 Celebrating Women at the Hilton Anatole on Thursday, October 25.
Despite Celebrating Women Co-Chair Michal Powell not being able to attend the 19th annual luncheon due to a daughter’s wedding in Colorado, Michal was on the stairway to present the award to Karla, who insisted on her sister, Kelli Maguire, joining her on the staircase for the moment. Kelli had been by Karla’s side over the months of treatments.
The entry hall was a traffic jam of folks like Celebrating Women Honorary Co-Chairs Linda Carter and Christi Urschel, Lindalyn Adams, Lyda Hill, Carol Seay, Tucker Enthoven with mom Julie Ford, Peggy Riggs, Emilynn and Claude Wilson, Pam and Vin Perella and Pat and John Harloe as well as speakers including Karla, Baylor Health Care System Foundation President Robin Robinson and Baylor Scott and White Health CEO Jim Hinton, who insisted that his wife Kristen Hinton join him on the stairs.
Over the past 18 years, the Luncheon has raised nearly $31M resulting in advancements in breast cancer research and treatments at Baylor.