July 2025
At HonorHealth, we hold ourselves to a higher standard by caring for the whole person, not just their symptoms. Through the support of a generous community, HonorHealth Foundation helps us make the investments to solve healthcare's toughest challenges.
With more than 90 years of experience delivering quality healthcare, no organization knows and understands our communities like we do.
Learn more at HonorHealthFoundation.org
Support, community are hallmarks of breast cancer survivor’s journey
With no history of breast cancer in her family, Cathy was shocked by her diagnosis: Triple Negative, Stage 2, among the most aggressive breast cancers.
Cathy was quickly referred to HonorHealth Cancer Care and met her team, including an oncologist, breast surgeon, radiation oncologist and navigator. But her fight required even more.
On the day after Christmas, Cathy underwent a lumpectomy and breast reconstruction and started radiation a couple weeks later, followed by chemotherapy.
With a previous career as a pharmacist, Cathy had enough clinical knowledge to understand the odds of recovery, the toll chemo could take and that nutrition can make a big difference in how your body responds.
“All of the physicians and their team approach was very important to my outcome,” says Cathy, now five years cancer-free. “Just as important was the support I received from so many team members who helped me navigate this challenging time with a positive mental attitude. They introduced me to yoga and meditation classes, knitting, fitness and cooking classes as a way to support my own healing. A dietitian assisted me with my nutrition while on chemotherapy. Perhaps as a result, I experienced minimal side effects from chemotherapy.”
While attending the HonorHealth programs, Cathy met dozens of other cancer patients on a similar journey to her own.
“Patients observe and talk with to each other. This was invaluable — to share thoughts, concerns, fears and advice,” Cathy recalls. “The environment created at HonorHealth made the journey one of the more positive experiences in my lifetime. And one that can be replicated for others.”
Innovative treatment for heart condition, tested at HonorHealth, receives FDA approval
The world’s first artificial mitral heart valve that requires no open-heart surgery, extensively tested for eight years at HonorHealth Research Institute, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Mitral valves tend to function less efficiently over time because of calcium buildup, a condition known as mitral annular calcification (MAC). Once the valve begins to fail, it causes mitral regurgitation, in which blood leaks back into the heart. Such a condition can significantly impact a patient's quality of life, causing chest pains, shortness of breath and dizziness.
Unfortunately, patients with MAC can be difficult to operate on and many are considered too high risk for open-heart surgery. “Repairing a damaged mitral valve is no simple task,” explains Zain Khalpey, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon at HonorHealth.
But now, thanks to the FDA-approved Tendyne™ transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) system, these patients have new hope with a life-changing alternative treatment. In the new, minimally-invasive procedure, a small incision is made between the ribs in the chest and the valve is placed using special instruments. This means reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times for patients compared to open-heart surgery.
Testing of the Tendyne replacement mitral valve in Scottsdale was overseen by David G. Rizik, MD, medical director of HonorHealth Research Institute’s Cardiovascular Research Division.
“Approval of this device represents another milestone in the history of HonorHealth Research Institute achievements and our continuing efforts to provide the very latest in medical technology and quality care for our patients,” Dr. Rizik said.
A groundbreaking gift: real estate for a cause
In a notable first for HonorHealth Foundation, Kelly and Todd LaPorte (Todd is the CEO of HonorHealth) decided to make a gift in the form of real estate — the home of Kelly’s mom, Sandi. This decision was born from a unique opportunity after Sandi’s passing that emerged during their estate planning process.
“We didn’t even realize it at first,” Kelly explains. “When the idea of a real estate gift came up, we thought it was a perfect fit. We didn’t know we were the first to do this, but it felt right.”
This pioneering gift was not merely an investment, but a strategic investment designed to create long-lasting impact on well-being. The property, a single-family home, was sold and the proceeds were allocated to fund a three-year trial period for providing peritoneal dialysis cyclers and staff training across multiple hospital campuses — a need Kelly identified when caring for her mother.
Sandi battled serious health issues exacerbated by diabetes, ultimately leading to kidney failure and dependence on dialysis. As Kelly navigated the healthcare system to secure the best care for her mother, she encountered a significant gap in the support available for patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis — a form of home-based kidney dialysis. This is when she had the idea to donate her mom’s home for better care in our community.
According to Greg Mattox, Vice President, Planned Giving and Real Estate, there are a number of reasons why people make gifts of real estate to support the causes they care about. A few of the benefits of gifting real estate include improving liquidity by eliminating expenses normally associated with property ownership; receiving an income tax deduction based on fair market value of the real estate; avoiding capital gains tax that you might owe upon selling; and the real benefit of simplifying tasks and relieving the stress of selling.
Kelly and Todd’s philanthropic journey, which began with a deeply personal challenge, has culminated in a pioneering initiative that addresses a critical community need. Their story not only exemplifies the spirit of high-impact giving but also serves as a guiding light for those looking to make a difference in their own unique ways with the resources they have at hand.
If you’re interested in exploring a gift of real estate, please e-mail us at: Foundation@HonorHealth.com
HonorHealth Research Institute Clinical Trials
Thanks in part to the support of generous donors, HonorHealth Research Institute (HRI) delivers transformative advancements in research and innovation, enhancing patient care and offering new hope to patients with rare or difficult-to-treat conditions.
HRI currently has more than 180 trials and studies across eight disciplines, including bariatrics, cancer, cardiovascular and neurologic.
Learn about HRI and explore the Research Institute's clinical trials and studies
Read the Summer issue of Reflections of Honor
The Summer 2025 issue of HonorHealth Foundation's magazine, Reflections of Honor, is hot off the press. This publication captures the essence of our incredible donors through stories of people whose lives have been transformed by the care and innovation made possible by their gifts.
NICU Tea & Luncheon
Friday, September 19, 2025
Registration is officially open for the eighth annual NICU Tea and Luncheon
This community favorite event will be held on Friday, September 19, 2025, at the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort.
All proceeds will benefit the NICU at HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea— the Northeast Valley’s only Level III NICU.
This event will sell out, so register today!
4th Annual Desert Mission Morning of Gold breakfast
Friday, November 7, 2025
Save the date for the Morning of Gold breakfast on Friday, November 7, 2025, from 7:30 – 9:30 AM at the Arizona Biltmore Resort.
This annual breakfast continues a strong tradition of supporting Desert Mission’s Lincoln Learning Center, Adult Day Healthcare Center and the Desert Mission Food Bank.
Registration opening soon!
Save the date for the 2026 Honor Ball
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Please mark your calendar for the evening of February 28, 2026, when we will gather at the luxurious Arizona Biltmore to enjoy an evening inspired by The Great Gatsby.
The 2026 Honor Ball will benefit the HonorHealth Innovation Endowment.
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