Rhondolyn Evett
Dearbonne-Morris
1973 - 2016
Evett's Story
In June of 2015, Evett noticed a pea-sized mass under her left breast. By the time she was officially diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) in July, the mass had grown to the size of a large grapefruit. IBC is a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, about 1% of all breast cancer cases in the United States are IBCs. IBC usually starts with the reddening and swelling of the breast instead of a distinct lump that we are trained to examine for. IBC tends to grow and spread quickly, with symptoms worsening within days or even hours. After six months of the strongest possible chemotherapy treatments, a partial mastectomy, and 62 days of radiation therapy, Evett rang the bell, signifying her completion of treatment. Her cancer was gone. Two months, later the cancer returned and metastasized. Evett succumbed to the disease on July 25, 2016. Evett was a newlywed wife, married for one year and eleven months to the love of her life and an exceptional mother to a son and daughter, ages 18 and 14. During her battle against cancer, she became a champion for breast cancer awareness, urging everyone she met to make healthy life choices and to get screenings for cancers of all types.
She faced each day of her illness with great courage.
She is, and will forever be, our hero.
the foundation
The Rhondolyn Evett Dearbonne-Morris IBC
Research & Scholarship Foundation (REDM IBC Foundation)
is a 501(c)(3) organization devoted to IBC awareness.
OUR MISSION
The mission of the foundation is to promote IBC awareness, contribute to the cause of inflammatory breast cancer research, connect the community with health resources, and provide adversity and need-based academic scholarships to prospective college students.
OUR START
The Rhondolyn Evett Dearbonne-Morris Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research and Scholarship Foundation (REDM Foundation) was founded in the summer of 2016. The foundation was started by Evett's close friends and family members to carry on the spirit of charity and health promotion that Evett championed during her life and year-long battle with cancer.
OUR GOALS
To reduce the incidence of death resulting from inflammatory breast cancer by increasing awareness, providing education, and providing health screenings and other resources.
To provide scholarships to students who have experienced trauma or adversity, thus assisting them in continuing their educations, earning degrees, bettering themselves and their communities through education, and becoming a contributing member of society.
To provide funding annually to the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research team at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
