Keeping Hope Alive

Dionne Warner was diagnosed with cancer eight different times --- and survived each instance. She beat breast, brain, liver, bone and lung cancer. Just a week after getting married in 1995, Warner received a diagnoses of stage two/three breast cancer. In 1997, after serving as matron of honor at a friend’s wedding, she had a seizure which led to brain cancer.

Later on, she planned to remarry, but had doubts because of her then-recent liver cancer detection. Her husband, Graham, helped her through the tough ordeals, but they had to cut their honeymoon short due to her surgeries.

While cancer-free, she was able to volunteer at the Allan Blair Cancer Center to help the staff and patients she had encountered during her stays there.

“I wanted patients to see hope standing in front of them” Warner said.

In 2009, she was diagnosed with bone cancer in her spine, ribs, pelvic area, on top of lung cancer and another diagnosis of liver cancer. She faced her first chemotherapy treatment with a brave face, donning war paint and a pink “Cancer Sucks” t-shirt.

For each treatment session Warner attended, she and her husband wore a total of 78 themed costumes, including cowboy, disco, and pirates.

Pictures of her outfits were sent through email to inspire others, and she even helped co-author a book called “Never Leave Your Wingman,” about keeping hope alive.