#HASHTAG: DIANA KEEN

DIANA KEEN, the founder of the Roots & Wings Foundation, had to halt her career in art and architecture when she was diagnosed with metastatic inflammatory breast cancer at age 36. Metastatic breast cancer (MBC), stage IV, is an incurable and lifelong condition where breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body. The Wilmette resident has been living with MBC for nine years. The quote by Salman Rushdie, “What can’t be cured must be endured,” has been fundamental to her thriving and to Roots & Wings’ mission to help members of the MBC community receive support as a whole patient. The Foundation advocates for MBC patients and provides complimentary integrative wellness care such as functional nutrition, acupuncture, meditation, yoga, and other medically proven therapies that support the mind, body, and spirit during treatment. Roots & Wings partners with the MBC community at renowned cancer centers like NorthShore, RUSH, Northwestern, Dana-Farber, Duke, UCLA, and OSU. She says the Roots & Wings supporters are incredibly grateful for the support from the North Shore community and invite everyone to participate in the Foundation’s annual fundraiser, MOVE IV MBC, on August 6.

Register for a suggested donation of $25. You can run, walk, bike, swim, or move any way you see fit; just move for MBC. For more information, to register, and for sponsorship opportunities visit rootswingsfoundation.org/mivm23.

#ON MY NIGHTSTAND

My favorite book is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott because my daughters and I have been taking turns reading it aloud after busy summer days. Residing next to it, I have a stack of health and wellness books, including a recent recommendation, Outlive, The Science & Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, MD. I’m also bouncing between 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think by Brianna Wiest and a fantastic summer read, Romantic Comedy, by Curtis Sittenfeld.

#ON MY MOBILE

I follow family, friends, and fellow advocates like @METAvivor, who advocate for MBC research, and @picklesgroup, which supports children impacted by their parent’s cancer. I’m inspired by a long list of bespoke artists, designers, and photographers, and some of my favorites are @StudioGild, an interior design firm based in Chicago and Los Angeles; @vincentjamesdesigns, a clothing line of chic foundational pieces; @martefrisnes_jewellery, a Norwegian born British based designer; @magsderoma, a Los Angeles interdisciplinary artist and published illustrator; @karagreenwellart an abstract artist from San Diego; and @erinkonrath a Chicago lifestyle photographer.

#IN MY EARBUDS

As a mom of a busy family, in addition to my numerous medical appointments, I spend more time driving than I would like. To make the most of it, I listen to comedic podcasts such as SmartLess, It’s Not a Book Club Podcast, and Off Menu, which keep me laughing as I navigate through the intense Chicago area traffic. I often tune into The Burn Podcast, hosted by April Stearns, the editor of Wildfire Magazine. The podcast features empowering stories and interviews with women under 50 who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. These tales of strength and resilience are genuinely inspiring, regardless of whether or not you’ve experienced cancer.