After 46 years as a dental hygienist, Kathryn Trilli retired to Horseshoe Bay seeking peace, sunshine and family time. That calm was disrupted in August 2023 when a routine mammogram at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Marble Falls revealed breast cancer. With a family history of the disease, she began chemotherapy followed by surgery and radiation.
Surrounded by support from her family and care team, Kathryn leaned on the compassion of her nurses. “Their kindness carried me through,” she said. In April, she received the news she had hoped for: She was cancer‑free.
During chemotherapy, Kathryn developed mucositis, a common side effect of cancer treatment that causes mouth and throat ulcers, making eating and brushing painful. A small comfort kit she received during treatment sparked an idea.
“I remember thinking, this comfort matters,” Kathryn said. “I knew this was where I could give back.”
Kathryn began assembling dental hygiene comfort kits for oncology patients, filled with extra‑soft toothbrushes, sensitivity toothpaste, oncology‑safe lip balm, floss and oral care tips.
The first 50 kits, funded by a Greater Austin Dental Hygienists Association grant, were donated to the Baylor Scott & White Specialty Clinic – Marble Falls, where nurses distribute them to patients.
Kathryn hopes to expand the kits to more clinics, including pediatric versions. “My goal is simple,” she said. “More comfort for more people.”
Through gratitude and lived experience, she’s turned her cancer journey into a mission of comfort and hope—one kit at a time.
