A Dream, a Diagnosis and One Woman’s Pink Era
One morning in February 2025, Nina Youabb woke up from a vivid dream knowing that she needed to schedule a breast cancer screening. In the dream, God had appeared, warning her. Only a few months earlier, Nina's routine annual mammogram was normal. But her instincts and faith told her to take action, so she made an appointment right away.
The additional screening confirmed Stage 2b breast cancer, a disease that had affected many women in her family already.
From Stage 0 to Stage 2 in just a few months. The speed of it stunned her, and she began seeking treatment.
Breathe. We Have Options.
Disappointing experiences at other medical facilities during her search for treatment eventually led Nina to City of Hope® Cancer Center Chicago, where she met with David Winchester, MD, FACS.
The contrast between her earlier experiences and her first meeting with Dr. Winchester was clear.
“He said, ‘Breathe. At City of Hope, we have options,’” Nina recalls. “It was the first time I saw hope.”
Over the next few months, Nina underwent a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. She was surprised by the level of personal care she received as she navigated her new normal.
“At City of Hope, every time I took a step, someone was there to help. And they didn’t just look at the diagnosis; they looked at everything from emotional well-being to fertility to post-surgery support,” she says.
After Nina’s diagnosis, her younger sister underwent genetic testing. She learned she carried the BRCA gene, a risk factor for breast cancer. Armed with that knowledge, she chose to have a preventive double mastectomy, which can significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer in people with this genetic variant.
Everything’s Pink
During this time, exhausted and overwhelmed as Nina was from surgery, an idea began to take root — an idea to celebrate her survival and do something special for the people who had given her hope.
It started by asking friends and family for donations. But so many people wanted to hear more about Nina’s journey that she, her sister and her best friend decided to turn it into an event. She called it “In My Pink Era.”
Nina is a mother to three boys — a 6-year-old and two teenage stepsons. Her life is full of doing “all the boy things.” But she also loves makeup, decorating and the color pink.
Her office is pink. Her license plate is pink. And of course, pink is the universal color of breast cancer awareness.
Nina is also a fan of Taylor Swift, whose famous “Eras Tour” celebrated different phases of the singer’s career.
“Like Taylor, everyone has their own unique era,” Nina says. “This was mine — my Pink Era.”
The event took place Oct. 18, 2025. During a seated dinner, guests heard from Dr. Winchester via a video and four cancer survivors, including Nina and her sister. A decorated photo booth in the foyer doubled as a phone booth where participants could leave a message for Nina.
They sold 175 tickets, raising $15,800 for City of Hope with an event planned and executed in only six weeks!
Pictured on the left is Nina and her husband at In My Pink Era in October 2025. Pictured on the right is a phone booth used to record messages of hope.
Changing the Conversation
One moment from the evening stayed with Nina.
“During my speech, I remember seeing shock on people’s faces when I told them 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer over their lifetime,” Nina says.
People were also concerned about the increase in cancer among young women like Nina. While breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, it’s relatively rare in women under 45. But for unknown reasons, the number of young women being diagnosed is rising.
The event opened the door for conversations people often avoid. The shift felt especially meaningful within her own community. Members of the Chicago-area Assyrian community heard about Nina’s event through social media and word of mouth. They came out in large numbers to show their support.
“My culture is very traditional,” says Nina. “We don’t speak about personal problems. When I spoke about my breast cancer journey, many Assyrians shared their stories with me afterward.”
Knowledge is power and gives you options, as Nina’s sister shared during her speech at the event.
Where Hope Goes From Here
Nina is currently continuing treatment while balancing life as a working mom. But all that is not stopping her from planning another City of Hope fundraising event.
This time, she envisions a fashion runway show brunch with pink outfits, pink cocktails and another opportunity to bring people together for a cause that has touched her family deeply. More than anything, Nina hopes her story encourages women to take their health seriously and trust their instincts.
She advises women: “Check yourself. Talk to your doctor. Get educated about early signs. Do genetic testing.” Acting quickly can make all the difference.
The journey that started with a dream is far from over.
Thank you, Nina. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for staying. Thank you for turning compassion into something tangible. City of Hope’s volunteers don’t just support the mission, they are the mission. Every day in countless ways, you make hope possible.
National Volunteer Month
April is National Volunteer Month. For more than 110 years, volunteers like Nina have powered City of Hopes’ progress. Today, 25,000 volunteers across five regional locations — Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix, Chicago and Atlanta — keep hope alive and advance the mission across the nation.
