​Deb Mumma's Story
​The Ribbon of Hope and Tears was created through a collaboration of Deb Mumma and Aaron Snider. This unique piece of jewelry was designed with a Ribbon to represent Hope and a Tear to acknowledge that the diagnosis of cancer is a sad and frightening. 

Like many others, Deb Mumma’s life was affected by cancer. Diagnosed in 2009 with metastatic breast cancer, Deb began her personal battle. In July of 2011 Deb’s husband was diagnosed with leukemia and after living a year with chemotherapy and a subsequent bone marrow transplant, she was by his side as he lost his battle on September 6, 2012. In December, 2014 cancer visited Deb’s family again. This time her 3 year old granddaughter was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. After surgery, radiation, and chemo, her cancer appears to be under control. 

On May 5th, 2016 Deb Mumma lost her own fight with cancer. Deb believed that a positive attitude would help her face each day. She learned that finding reasons to laugh and spending time with people she loved increased her quality of life. Being a nurse she enjoyed taking care of others and never lost sight of the importance of connecting with others. She once said, “While I can, I will be an advocate for myself and others living with, and dying of cancer. I'm not living the life I imagined. I am not living the life that I chose. But, as changes happen, and they always do, I am blessed, and I am living the life I have been given.”
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The concept of the Ribbon of Hope and Tears was to create a tangible object that connected those that have cancer, have lost someone to cancer, or want to support the need for research that may someday lead to a cure.