Susan’s Rodizio Story

My birthday in September of 2017 was celebrated at my favorite place to have my birthday celebration, Rodizio Grill. At that time, I was coming up on two years of fighting cancer. By then, I’d made it though the major surgery, chemo, and six more post-chemo surgeries. Cancer had taken a good deal from me, but I enjoyed my birthday feast of my favorites: all the chicken dishes, grilled pineapple, Brazilian cheese bread (that I now know as pão de queijo), and more salad bar delights than I can name. It was mid-meal that my eye caught a small table placard, just like the larger display by the front door. It said “Enjoy dessert, and support breast cancer survivors. During October, all proceeds from our Rabanada are donated to the Image Reborn Foundation. For more information, visit ImageRebornFoundation.org.”

I stopped and took a picture of the placard. I was intrigued; I’d never been to something like that before. I dismissed it as I left the restaurant. I’d had difficulty with post-surgery reconstruction, and the subsequent multiple surgeries, but I thought to myself, “really, the tough stuff is behind me; I should leave the spots for women who really need a retreat.” A little voice worked on me every day that following weekend, challenging the other little stoic voice that tried to convince me that I didn’t need a retreat like this. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I finally reached out to Image Reborn, asked a few questions and signed up. I needed this, and I finally let myself lean into the experience.

Just a month later, I was on a plane to Salt Lake City, not knowing what to expect. I have pictures of me with cucumbers on my eyes, having the first facial of my life. The entire weekend changed my life. I didn’t realize how much I needed to be in a beautiful mountain lodge with other women who knew what this journey was like. Together, we laughed, cried, and shared jokes that would become just ours. I left that retreat renewed and inspired. I asked if I could come volunteer, and a handful of months later, I found myself heading out to Utah to help out with a spring retreat. I was hooked on the mission of Image Reborn, as I saw the deep needs that women like myself brought to the retreats, and the connections and changes that happened to each woman, in just the way she needed it to happen.

Along the way, a few of us from Colorado who had been to an Image Reborn retreat found each other, and soon Ally Morrison had connected five of us with a vision to take these amazing retreats to Colorado. As a former camp director, helping bring the Image Reborn magic to Colorado as a facilitator was perfect. We brought a steering committee together and began to envision what it would take to grow the IR mission into a neighboring state. One significant challenge stood in our way—where would we find lodging for these Colorado ladies? The answer arrived, once again, with the heart that Rodizio has for Image Reborn. At the gala in 2018, our “Colorado Tribe” had a chance to meet Ivan Utrera and thank him for his amazing support of Image Reborn. Ivan had been a resident of Colorado for a number of years and offered us his willingness to connect us with a mountain lodging opportunity. As they say, “the rest is history,”

Since 2019, Image Reborn in retreats have served over 200 women in over 20 Colorado retreats, all in beautiful lodging in the mountain towns of Dillon, Keystone and Breckenridge. Ivan and his lovely wife Rosana, have not only supported the lodging and feasts for our participants, but they have both personally come to help out with retreats and meet the women in person. Rosana has been a kitchen guru, and we’ve had the chance to have Chef Tom and Chef Renaldo join in the magic. Denver General Manager Fernando has provided us with delicious meals this summer that always find their way onto our ladies’ photo collections. Our recent Deaf retreat especially delighted in having such a special lodge and feast provided for them, as many of them had never had the opportunity to try Brazilian food or stay in such spacious lodging.

I recently told Ivan that I’ve never tried another Brazilian steakhouse—why would I? I feel such a connection to and warmth toward a group of people that have such a heart for women like me and thousands of others. I never knew I’d end up with cancer, and I never thought I’d be working with Image Reborn in a mission I have such passion for. While I would never have wanted to have cancer, I found my life so full of people with compassion, kindness, and a desire to enhance the lives of others. Now I can be one of those people too, and it all started with delicious food and a little placard on a table. I am grateful.