How Breast Cancer, a Bar Mitzvah, and a Guardian Angel Sparked a Legacy of Healing and Giving Back

In 1996, I was 47 years old, a mom of three, living a full, busy life. Then, on September 9th, the first day of 7th grade for my younger son, David, I found a lump in my breast while massaging a sore rib. I had no idea how much that moment would change my life.

At first, the doctors were hopeful. The scans didn’t scream “breast cancer.” But after surgery, I got the call that upended everything: it was cancer, and it had already spread to 12 lymph nodes.

I still remember the fear in my body as I got the diagnosis. At one point, my surgeon said I might need a bone marrow transplant. That night, I sat up in bed gripping Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book, my hands shaking in fear as I tried to process what was happening. My older son walked in, saw the panic on my face, and gently took the book out of my hands. “You don’t need to read that right now, Mom,” he said.

Finding Hope at Duke Cancer Institute

Two oncologists at other hospitals suggested I postpone my son David’s upcoming Bar Mitzvah. But I wasn’t willing to let cancer take that away from him or from me.

In the days that followed, a dear friend connected me with a woman who would become my “guardian angel.” Quietly, compassionately, and without ever disclosing her own deep ties to Duke, she opened doors I never even knew existed, connecting me with the right people so I could make informed choices about my care. Only later did I learn she was the chair of the very board I now serve on. And then I met the team of specialists led by Dr. Jim Vredenburgh at Duke Cancer Institute. 

I’ll never forget meeting Dr. Vredenburgh for the first time. He greeted me with a huge smile and said, “Twelve lymph nodes? That’s doable.” And for the first time, I felt like someone saw the possibility, not just the diagnosis.

Dr. Vredenburgh enrolled me in a clinical trial that gave me a 50/50 chance of not needing a transplant, and he built my treatment plan around David’s Bar Mitzvah. “You need something to shoot for,” he told me. And I did. I held on to that goal with everything I had.

A Milestone and a Mission

I finished treatment just two days before David’s Bar Mitzvah. During his speech, he told our family and friends that I’d discovered the lump on his first day of school and completed treatment on his last. “This was my best school year ever,” he said, “because my mom fought and won.”

Then, without prompting, David, only 13 years old at the time, pledged 13% of his Bar Mitzvah gifts to Duke’s Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. That speech became the foundation of a fundraising letter that ultimately raised over $46,000 for Duke Cancer Institute.

That moment, seeing the pride in David’s eyes and the outpouring of generosity sparked something in me. It wasn’t just gratitude. I knew I wanted to give back and to help other women feel strong, seen, and supported on their journeys, too. David’s donation inspired our entire family to give back to Duke every year.

The Re-Birth of a Jewelry Brand with Heart

Estelle Vernon Designs had been my creative outlet since 1987, but surviving breast cancer gave me a renewed sense of passion and urgency. It was now or never to kick my business up a notch. 

"In 1996, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to put my jewelry 
making on hold. When I recovered, I had a new drive to make beautiful 
jewelry that would make me and my customers feel good about themselves. 
I felt it was now or never.” 

After I recovered, I felt a powerful urge to create. Jewelry had always been a part of my life, but now it carried a deeper meaning. Treatment had taken so much of my energy, my confidence, my sense of normalcy. But on the days I could get dressed and wear a beautiful piece of jewelry, I started to feel like myself again.

I wanted to design pieces that were not only elegant but also deeply personal; jewelry that could help women feel whole, radiant, and strong.

Today, every piece I create is rooted in simplicity, grace, and quiet strength. My hope is that when a woman wears my jewelry, she feels empowered, beautiful, and more like herself, no matter what she’s facing.

Giving Back Through Every Pearl

Every October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I run a special campaign to give back to Duke, the place that gave me back my life.

20% of all pink pearl jewelry sales and 10% of white and Tahitian pearl sales go directly to Duke Cancer Institute to support breast cancer research.

Every year, I invite my customers to support breast cancer research in a meaningful way:
Your purchase supports a cause, and your jewelry becomes a reminder of why it matters.

Why Duke Matters

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the U.S., and it’s the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. But thanks to institutions like Duke, the story is changing.

One example is that Duke is pioneering technologies like LUMO15, which helps surgeons see cancer cells during surgery. It’s already reduced repeat surgeries by up to 32%. If that had existed 29 years ago, I might have avoided my second surgery.

Since 2008, I’ve proudly served on Duke’s Cancer Institute Board of Advisors. I’ve watched their research save lives, push boundaries, and give women like me more time, more options, and more hope.

This Isn’t Just My Story, It’s a Mission

Surviving breast cancer didn’t close a chapter in my life; it opened a new one. It gave me the courage to dream bigger, to create with intention, and to serve with purpose.

“When I was faced with a life-threatening illness and survived, I wanted to move forward with my life and develop my own voice. I wanted something special for me! I had a desire to make jewelry with an elegant design to make me and my customers feel beautiful and express our individuality!"

Today, every necklace I design, every pearl I string, and every breast cancer fundraiser I launch is rooted in that mission. I want women everywhere to feel strong, stylish, and supported, and I want to make sure the researchers and doctors at Duke can keep changing lives.

So if you’re thinking about buying jewelry this fall, I invite you to shop with intention. Choose something beautiful that also gives back. Together, let’s honor the journeys of those we love and support the hospital that’s saving lives.

Let your jewelry be part of a greater story — one of survival, giving, and timeless elegance.

Shop the Collection that Gives Back