MY LIFE Matters - Health Literacy - 1

LETTER FROM MAIMAH KARMO Conversation
MY LIFE
MATTERS
MAIMAH KARMO, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE TIGERLILY
FOUNDATION
H
LIFE Matters and being a part of that change.
Blessings, hope, and much love,
Maimah Karmo
ealth literacy is a key part of every person's
health journey. While there is a lot of focus
on health literacy after diagnosis, it is so
important to focus on it before a person is
even diagnosed and to start early. We hear
a lot about patients not being health literate, which drives
me nuts because the term makes it seem as if people aren't
smart. Health literacy is impacted not only by your socioeconomic
place in life, your education level, and more, but
by being diagnosed with any disease is a trauma and when we are in a place of trauma, we can't think. When I
was diagnosed, I was totally overwhelmed, while having to make life altering decisions.
This is one of the reasons why educating and empowering our patients is so important. I am extremely
proud of the many advocates who have invested in themselves by increasing their health literacy. Understanding
your diagnosis, testing, treatment, knowing how to navigate your health system, having healthy
provider relationships, working to overcome barriers, and navigating survivorship is a lot to learn and implement,
especially during a crisis is an epic feat! But then again, epic people do epic things!
As a Black woman and breast cancer Survivor, health literacy became very important in my life. I experienced
both disparities and racism within the medical system. I had to educate myself and learn to advocate
for myself in ways I never imagined possible. During this time, while fighting for my life is when I started
Tigerlily Foundation. It was either sink or swim, and I had to do everything I could to survive. Tigerlily
Foundation is designed to support patients' health literacy by educating, empowering, advocating, and
supporting women of all backgrounds, including those at heightened risk, those facing health disparities,
and those with less access to care. This is one of the reasons why the ANGEL Advocate Program is so important.
Through this program, we have educated hundreds of women to become health literacy warriors
and they're impacting their communities to change outcomes for others.
We would like to thank Elephants and Tea for partnering with us in this Health Literacy edition of My
MY LIFE MATTERS
HEALTH LITERACY ISSUE | SUMMER 2023
1

MY LIFE Matters - Health Literacy

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MY LIFE Matters - Health Literacy