Athens, Ga. (October 27, 2025) – Sabrina Bridwell was 47 when she received a breast cancer diagnosis in January 2025. Despite having no symptoms, no lump, and being diligent about screenings, a routine mammogram led to a callback, followed by an ultrasound and biopsy. The result: breast cancer.
“I knew I was going to make it, and I was going to be OK,” Bridwell said.
Her journey is one of resilience. After losing her husband in a car accident, Bridwell learned early how to persevere. Supported by her 15-year-old son and a compassionate care team led by Katie Moore, M.D., with Piedmont Physicians Surgical Breast Care Specialists of Athens, she trusted her instincts and declined going to Atlanta for a second opinion.
“I knew I had the right person, period,” she explained.
Following her diagnosis, Bridwell turned pain into purpose. She and her son began creating gift bags for newly diagnosed patients. Each bag contains 25 self-care items, a prayer card, and a handwritten note from her son reminding recipients, “You are not alone.”
“After a cancer diagnosis and even during treatment, you can be surrounded by people and still feel so alone,” Bridwell said. “I don’t want anyone to feel that. I want them to know that they are being supported every step of the way.”
In addition to the gift bags, Bridwell donates fabric and batting to a local group of sewers who craft heart-shaped pillows for surgery patients. She recalls waking up from surgery to find one tucked beside her and was so moved that she purchased materials to make 100 more for others undergoing similar procedures.
Bridwell continues to support the patients at Surgical Breast Care Specialists of Athens and encourages every woman she meets to get their annual mammogram. Now on the other side of her cancer diagnosis, she and her son remain committed to helping other women through their journeys—one bag, one pillow at a time.
Piedmont Physicians Surgical Breast Care Specialists of Athens offers comprehensive breast healthcare, including the High-Risk Breast Cancer Program that proactively identified women at high risk for breast cancer.