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When Carolyn Shelby was battling breast cancer in 2012, her quilting group cried with her, laughed with her and rejoiced with her.  She has since donated handmade quilts to benefit Pink Roses Teal Magnolias and created a quilt for the Janet Knowles Breast Cancer Center at MD Anderson Cooper.

Q. How did you get involved with Pink Roses Teal Magnolias?

A. In 2013, I made a quilt to thank my doctors, including Dr. Kristin Brill and Dr. Robert Somer, for caring for me during my battle with breast cancer, but I wanted to do more. They introduced me to Susan Bass Levin and The Cooper Foundation, and the rest is history.

Q. What do you like about being a member of the Pink Roses Teal Magnolias committee?

A. First, it’s a wonderful group of women. Second, I want to do something that impacts women locally. Pink and Teal is perfect for that, as all the money raised benefits MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper. I received top-notch care from the moment I stepped into Dr. Brill’s office, and I want to make sure other women have access to that same type of high-quality care in our local area.

Q. What inspires your quilt work?

A. Cancer showed me that I am creative and I can use my creativity to make a difference. I put a great deal of love into everything I create and want people to feel that love and draw strength from it.

Q. When did you learn you had breast cancer?

A. It was October 2012. When I think back on it, it was almost surreal. I was a member of the County Animal Response Team that was taking care of people’s pets during Hurricane Sandy and knew I had a lump. But sleeping on a cot during a hurricane really helped keep me from focusing on it.

Q. How do you feel about the color pink?

A. I never considered myself a pink kind of girl. I never had any pink stuff. Now I do.

To view an image of the quilt Carolyn made for the Janet Knowles Breast Cancer Center at MD Anderson Cooper click here.