OUR STORY
Life simply brought Claudia, Heather and Karen together:
Their backgrounds and experience on a personal and professional level has planted the seed of BLOOM.
Mrs. Karen LaFleur, Dr. Claudia Cotes and Dr. Heather Colmenter
When Heather was diagnosed with the disease, she reached out to friends and colleagues, she shared her frustration with the process of being treated, and voiced out the need to have a resource that would help patients and their network of support to walk through this very difficult journey.
Ever since these 3 women got together, the many ideas and experiences shared with each other have contributed to build the base of existence and purpose for this organization.
Bloom exists to educate, support, accompany and lead anyone dealing with this terrible disease, and to show that there is hope in the midst of distress. Through advocacy, an online platform and freedom of expression, Bloom seeks to help other women to get informed and be proactive, as well as to fight boldly for recovering their health, to claim their life!
Dr. Claudia Cotes, M.D. at The Rose
CLAUDIA COTES: The medical doctor who diagnoses
Dr. Claudia Cotes is a Radiologist specialized in Breast Imaging at The Rose, a non-profit organization that provides breast imaging and diagnostic services for underserved women in Houston, Texas. She completed her residency and fellowship in the University of Texas Medical Branch and finished medical school at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia.
Claudia has centered her interest in improving access to quality health care amongst cultural barriers, focusing in the hispanic population. Throughout her career, she has identified a great need for accurate information and guidance in regards to breast diseases, as well as for diagnosis and treatment in the underserved communities.
Throughout her career, Claudia has been the one to give patients the unpleasant news of their diagnosis. Due to her experience, she has identified the great need for guidance and proper information on breast cancer treatment and options among the local community, most particularly among Hispanic women.
Claudia has not only experienced the tragedy of breast cancer from a professional standpoint, but also from a very close experience in her family. Both her emotions as well as her intellectual connections to the issue have motivated her to found and lead the initiative of communicating to the public the realities of the disease.
Dr. Heather Colmenter, M.D. at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston
HEATHER COLMENTER: The medical doctor who became a patient
Dr. Heather Colmenter has been practicing anesthesia and acute pain medicine for 10 year in the Houston area affiliated with multiple hospitals in the Houston area. She finished her medical school and residency in the University of Texas Medical Branch. She is currently completing a fellowships in Integrative Medicine in the University of Arizona and Interventional Pain at the University of Texas Medical Branch focusing on chronic pain, nutrition and the mind body connection for optimal health to help women live their optimal life after their breast cancer diagnosis .
Heather was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and it was this experience what urged her to help other women understand the facts and know the best path to follow before diagnosis, during treatment, and after surviving the disease. Her goal is to provide an integrated approach through these different phases while providing emotional support. She wants to encourage women walking through the same journey she’s been, sharing with others the same feelings and thoughts that had made her brave and bold enough to join thousands of women in their fight against breast cancer.
Karen LaFleur, Communications Director for Ronald McDonald House Charities
KAREN LAFLEUR: The social advocate who loves helping others
Karen LaFleur is the Communications Director for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston/Galveston. RMHC creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. We believe that when you change a child’s life, you change a family’s, which can change a community, and ultimately the world.
Previously she was the Communication Director for The Monarch School and Institute. The Monarch School is dedicated to providing an innovative, therapeutic education for individuals with neurological differences—such as those associated with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit and learning disabilities
Karen’s journalism background working for Telemundo and NBC along with years of experience in media, public and community relations focused on crisis and emergency management has equipped her with the sensitivity and drive needed to assist others and care for those in need and distress.
Her contribution to the organization is to channel this initiative pulling the team members and their knowledge and skills together in order to positively influence the community and educate on an issue that is very real, yet slightly misinformed.