Liza's Lids
Liza's Lids
Sharing strength, support and encouragement
Who Is Liza
Who Is Liza
Liza is a breast cancer survivor, the founder of Liza's Lids Breast Cancer Charity Fund, because losing her hair was harder than losing her breasts.
"Out of Despair, Disappointment and Pain comes self LOVE and the strength to stand in your own truth.....doing your best and ignoring the judgment".
It was a climactic turning point that so deeply affected the path of her life when she heard those words “You have breast cancer”. Liza, a driven, independent, Greek girl, was about to embark on a journey that would not only change her life but would change the lives of many women who are also battling breast cancer.
This was going to be the fight of her life.
Liza was born and raised in Montgomery County, Maryland she is one of seven children in total and has five brothers (Tommy, Christopher, Charles, George and Ian) and one sister Elena, so you can clearly see where her fight and vivacious personality come from.
Liza graduated from Wheaton High School, and went on to graduate from Towson University with a degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice.
Liza's has worked in Montgomery County for over 20 years in the field of Social Work and has a wealth of knowledge about County and State programs.
They had been married only 28 months when Liza received devastating news about her cancer diagnosis.
2008 was, undeniably a year to remember for Liza. She was independent, stable in her career, and in a healthy long term relationship.
The question was asked, a ring was given, and in October of the same year, Liza decided to marry long time boyfriend, John. Together, they went on to live as any “normal” newlywed couple would.
They had been married only 28 months when Liza received devastating news about her cancer diagnosis.
In June of 2011, at the young age of 42, Liza was diagnosed with Stage 3 (b) Breast Cancer.
Her exact Diagnosis was Invasive Duct Carcinoma with Lymph-Vascular. Estrogen Receptor Positive, Progesterone Receptor Positive,and HER-2/neu Negative.
Finding out she had cancer was shocking and devastating. There was no family history of breast cancer, no intelligent reasoning for this diagnosis.
Liza got the biopsy on a Friday and spent the weekend in blissful denial.
Monday morning she paraded into her doctor’s office in pure Greek fashion, with a full entourage. They all stood standing beside Liza waiting to hear this was NOT cancer.
However, in June of 2011, a battle plan was being strategized to keep Liza alive. There was no time to waste, she was STAGE 3b. Treatment had to begin immediately. She underwent months of Chemotherapy and Radiation treatments.
After battling all of this,
in December of 2011 Liza underwent surgery, a double mastectomy. During her treatment, a dream in her heart began to flourish. With her amazing determination, with her want and need to help other women fighting the same battle, and the phenomenal “TEAM LIZA”, LIZA’S LIDS was born.
She has turned her personal tragedy into a triumph. She has embraced “giving back” and is using her experience to bring awareness and give support to other women who have breast cancer, and who are losing their hair during treatment.
Having Breast Cancer has changed the path Liza thought her life was going to take, but it gave her a new vision and a new direction in her life.
Liza's vision is to provide information on how to obtain free mammograms for women who cannot afford them. Liza believes "a woman should not have to die of Breast Cancer due to the inability to pay for their medical treatment".
Liza Takounakis Zarou
Photo Taken October 2012
Her mission in life now is to increase awareness through information and education and to provide head coverings for those
in need.
Liza says, “It has not been easy this past year, but I am determined to be strong, happy, focused and to GIVE BACK! I HAD cancer, but I am fine right now, I’m not dying…..well not today anyway. LOL” Liza Takounakis Zarou
This new path, new vision and new direction in life has given her the passion and drive to create, “Liza’s Lids Breast Cancer Fund” where she can help give back to women with cancer.
No war is ever won with just one battle, Liza’s Lids is here to help the women of Montgomery County, Maryland regain the will to fight against their cancer, one battle at a time.
“It is very important that my story be told correctly….this is one of the reasons I created the web site, to set the record straight! But most importantly, I created it to GIVE BACK to breast cancer.
I BELIEVE THE SMALLEST gesture can make an impact in someone’s life…….to let them know that they are not alone, and that there is someone out there that can help them, coach them and point them in the right direction for the help they need.” Liza Takounakis Zarou
This biography is far from complete; Liza has a lot of living left to do. She is currently in the process of writing a book about her journey with breast cancer. It’s still untitled at the moment, but look for it in 2014.
In the book, Liza gets down and dirty about breast cancer, "It’s not pretty. There is nothing pretty about cancer, nothing pretty about losing all of your hair and eyelashes/eyebrows, going from fat to skinny and back again; and don't get me started on my 80 year old Squirrel." Liza Takounakis Zarou
She is raw, down to earth and she BRINGS the Liza sparkle to the table. You will walk away with a whole new perspective on "your own LIFE " and the words “You have Cancer”.
Liza and John are now making up for some lost time and living life to its fullest.
“When you do nothing, you feel powerless. By getting involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better. John Zarou
John Zarou (Liza's husband)