Maritza Valero came to the United States from Monterrey, Mexico for what she thought was going to be just a few years while her husband completed his medical training. This June she will have been here for 30 years, and Maritza has no regrets. In fact, the career path she has chosen provides her with amazing rewards nearly every day.
To watch a short video from MD Anderson about Marita, click here.
Not only did she initially think her stay was going to be fairly short, but Maritza was a licensed dentist in Mexico, a skilled profession she had worked hard to obtain, and one she assumed she would pursue here in the states. “My sister has a practice in Mexico, so I always thought I would eventually join her. Once we arrived in Texas, I decided I wanted to start a family, so my career plans were put on a back burner. I stayed with my children until I felt it was appropriate for me to go back to school to get my certification,” says Valero. “But as is often the case, life sometimes has a different plan.
“I had been volunteering for MD Anderson Cancer Center for several years, so when they were about to open a new building, they asked if I would be willing to help open a shop dedicated especially to cancer patients. I had eight months until I could go back to school, so I looked at their offer as a great opportunity to help others. It was at this juncture everything changed completely. I began as an MD Anderson volunteer in January with every intention of going back to school in the fall. I talked to my husband and told him this is amazing – I never knew this job existed. You take things for granted sometimes, but working with patients who have dealt with cancer felt more important. My dream of getting back into dentistry just didn’t feel all that significant.”
Maritza has now been a board certified fitter for about six years at Appearances. The store operates as a hospital-based specialty shop under the Department of Volunteer Services. Appearances provides a unique resource for helping cancer patients keep a positive self-image. Appearances staff includes mastectomy fitters and eight trained volunteers who rotate throughout the week.
MD Anderson is continuously ranked as one of the world’s most respected cancer centers because the hospital pursues excellence in patient care, research, education, and prevention opportunities. A testament to this excellence is the more than 1,100 volunteers who come together as a group to combine their compassion, skills and talent to fight cancer and make a difference in the lives of their patients.
Appearances carries breast forms, bras and other mastectomy products, lingerie, camisoles, swim and leisure wear, head coverings for both men and women, hats, turbans, scarves, books and journals, skin care products for the side effects of chemo and radiation, sunscreen, natural deodorant, canes, CVC covers, jewelry, cancer awareness products like lapel pins, inspirational items and more.
Volunteer Services also offers a Beauty/Barber shop where shampoos, haircuts, shaves, wigs, scarves and hats are available. Those services are provided at no charge. The Beauty/Barber Shop is staffed by two trained, licensed cosmetologists.
Maritza realizes she is in a very special setting. “The thing that amazes me the most is that we see patients from all over the world at MD Anderson. They may speak a completely different language but we communicate in the fitting room. Recently, because I speak Spanish they asked me to come into to the fitting room because we had someone who spoke Mandarin and they thought I could assist. I think because I come from another country and speak another language it’s a bit easier for me to communicate with body language. You don’t need any translation when you see the look on a woman’s face and how she changes her posture once you put the breast form on her. Her shoulders no longer drop and her posture immediately is more upright and positive. I see this all the time!”
Not only does Maritza work with women from all over the world, but she also, like most fitters, sees women from all walks of life. “We see everything from young and old, skinny and overweight, every race, every culture. I saw a girl today who is just 24. She found her cancer. She will have to have surgery, but wanted to see the options.
“I usually see 85 to 90 women each month. The surgeries I see tend to be newer because of our setting. I do see women who come once a year. A lot of the patients are from out of town, and although they used to get their supplies in their local setting, they now visit Appearances when they come to MD Anderson for their yearly appointments because of the services we provide.”
Maritza has noticed great changes in the products being offered in recent years and shares, “Seamless bras have become very popular here. The breast forms being offered are just amazing. Amoena has several products that are fantastic because they aren’t hot or heavy. We see more lumpectomies all the time, so the Amoena 333 PurFit Adjustable Enhancer is great for women who just need a little something to help even them out.”
Maritza’s husband, Vicente Valero, M.D., is Clinical Director of The Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, Deputy Chairman of the Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Professor in the departments of Breast Medical Oncology and General Oncology, all at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and also Professor of Internal Medicine at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, so a passion for helping others definitely runs in the family.
When asked how she maintains her own emotional balance working so closely with women dealing with cancer, she says, “Luckily, it doesn’t depress me. I feel good that I was able to help them when they were going through a difficult time. I make sure they get what they need. I feel blessed that I was able to provide services for them and care about them. The courage these women have is where I get my support! To me it’s not stressful. I do get sad when they come and say goodbye to me, but my method for coping with my emotions is to go home and cook a great meal. I also make sure to exercise and I do yoga, which are great stress relievers as well.”
Maritza is as passionate about her family as she is her work, and is very proud of her four children. Her oldest son, Vicente, went to medical school and is now in Baltimore in his second year preparing to be a surgeon. Daughter Vanessa lives in New York and is a registered dietician. Veronica is a special education teacher in Houston working with children who have autism and Downs Syndrome. And youngest daughter, Maritza, is in her second year of college and wants to be a nurse.
The family still takes trips together, which is another source of joy for Maritza. She loves to spend time with them skiing or visiting relatives in Mexico.
Life takes many circuitous twists and turns as we travel its path. For Maritza Valero, one thing has remained constant. She started out wanting to put beautiful smiles on people’s faces. She thought that was going to happen through her work as a dentist. Little did she know the smiles would be on the faces of the women she assists in her MD Anderson Appearances Shop!