A Quarterly Newsletter

April - June

Welcome to the Oshun Charitable Organization (OCO) quarterly newsletter! We are making improvements and would like to share them with you. Our organization is being built with love. Love of our community, love of women going through health challenges and love of the memories of loved ones we have lost. We celebrate all the survivors and honor those that succumbed. Their lives mattered, as well as their journeys.

Anyone going through chemotherapy will most likely experience some radical changes to their normal routines. There is usually a loss of appetite that may lead to changes in diet, and an increased level of fatigue. OCO spoke to a survivor about her journey since diagnosis and gleaned from her a story of having some specific difficulties. OCO chose to give her several items to assist with those challenges. She said daily smoothies were the one thing that helped her stay nourished. She was able to keep them down and could receive healthy ingredients from their consumption.

Diet can affect a woman's outcomes while undergoing chemotherapy. A 2015 study found a relationship between low recent protein intake and cancer related fatigue and increased mortality existed. While physicians have not calculated the exact protein needs for a woman undergoing chemotherapy, we believe providing tasty smoothie recipes can assist women in increasing their protein intake. We will provide blenders and smoothie recipes to women. If there are women who face significant financial barriers to purchasing smoothie ingredients, we will provide a gift card to the grocery store of their choice.

Supporting women post-diagnosis is one of the most important aspects of our mission. Our organization plans to support Black women by providing additional information that may improve their experience while

undergoing treatment which we believe will ultimately affect their ability to achieve remission. OCO aims to partner with healthcare facilities in Georgia to serve women with a recent diagnosis or in seek of a cancer support community while undergoing treatment.

There has also been outreach to churches. Plans are being made to collaborate with other organizations and women who are in need of support.

OCO will provide a blender to women we have identified as meeting our criteria for support. With access to a quality blender, they can create nourishing, digestible smoothies while going through treatment.

OCO will research and provide a variety of nourishing smoothie recipe cards for convenience and accessibility. OCO will also provide gift cards for the purchase of healthy ingredients.

Each woman will receive an ovarian cancer journey journal. Most often, documenting experiences from diagnosis through treatment to remission is cathartic.

Each journal is packed with information and has pages for personal entries detailing what is being experienced. Organizing medications, appointments, emotions, and positive quotes are also included.

What a wonderful gala on March 11, 2023 at the Georgia Aquarium Ocean Ball Room. It was the first gala since 2020 due to the pandemic. People came out in great numbers to be part of the festive affair. It not only served as a social activity but also as a fundraiser to benefit the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance (GOCA).

Board member, (l,r) Gail Glover, and Board Advisor Denise Williams attended the gala.

Advisory Board member Kim Emory (center) with the Atlanta mayor and others, Kim also serves as the Board President of GOCA and is an ovarian cancer survivor.

A great event with many opportunities to network and meet survivors and family members of those that succumbed to this disease.

To view the podcast go to

https://the1a.org/segments/why-are-womens-health-concerns-dismissed-so-often/

We also viewed these videos which accurately tell the story of how women are dismissed.

Our Board President, Gabrielle Sims is a bright star in the world. She shines on those she is around and on the endeavors she pursues. She is a graduate of Boston University, receiving bachelor's and master's degrees from the institution. Throughout her career in philanthropy, she has worked to support marginalized communities by funding non-profits projects. Her most recent position was as the Program Manager with NeighborhoodLIFT, NeighborWorks America. 

She is currently pursuing her Masters of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Business in Evanston, IL. 

Oshun was visualized by Gabrielle. In 2020, she lost her mother to ovarian cancer and her mother’s experience with the disease motivated her to start a non-profit to help other women with an ovarian cancer diagnosis; and those going through ovarian cancer treatment. Her hope is to advocate for the development of an early stage test so that more women can know their status in order to find treatment earlier. 

Summer Series - June - August

In Partnership with Providence Missionary Baptist Church, OCO will have a summer reading of Linda Villarosa's book, "Under the Skin" which lays bare the forces in the American health-care system and in American society that cause Black people to “live sicker and die quicker” compared to their white counterparts. Registration is upcoming and hope you will join us as we learn more about health disparities. The book is available on Amazon, Audible and where books are sold. It is also available in paperback.

Teal Trot - September 16

The Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance's annual walk/run

Details to be announced.

Panel Discussions - TBD

Survivors and health professionals in discussion

Follow us on Social Media: