Nineteen years after her best friend and sister passed away, Karen Steen was still thinking about ways to spread Leigh Ann’s warmth and cheer to others. A seemingly simple photo of Leigh Ann in a tiara at the hospital sparked an idea. That idea led to Leigh Ann’s Light, an organization giving tiaras – and a bit of hope and strength – to local women battling cancer.
“Leigh Ann was a free spirit who could walk into a room and make everyone feel comfortable,” shares Karen. “She loved music and concerts, traveling, reading and her four children. She had a way of really seeing people and understanding them. But to me, Leigh Ann was my best friend!”
A Lifelong Battle with Cancer, A Legacy of Hope
Leigh Ann was just 17 when bone cancer was found. Her right leg had to be amputated. “Despite the hardships she faced, she lived her life with strength, humor and resilience,” says Karen. “Cancer never defined who she was.”
The cancer came back, this time in the colon. Karen remembers talking and joking with her sister about how horrible the hospital gowns were. The fabric is stiff, they are ugly, and, well, your backside always hangs out. They both agreed they did not make anyone feel good about themselves. They passed the time during treatments brainstorming a new business they would do when Leigh Ann recovered. “We were going to start a little business sewing hospital gowns for women out of soft, silky, beautiful fabrics,” shares Karen. “We wanted women to feel comfortable and pretty even when they were sick. We even had a name for it: Twisted Sista.”
In 2006, Leigh Ann lost her battle with cancer. Karen has thought about that conversation for the last 19 years. “I thought many times about doing something in her memory, but the idea of starting a business always felt overwhelming,” she says. “Then one day I realized it didn’t have to be something big. It just had to carry her spirit forward. That’s when Leigh Ann’s Light began.”
Leigh Ann’s Light: Tiaras for Cancer Patients
And then there was that photo of Leigh Ann in a tiara. “In the photo she looked beautiful, and even happy despite everything she was going through,” Karen says. “I remember thinking that if a simple tiara could make her feel that strong, maybe it could do the same for other women facing cancer.”
That tiara had been given to Dr. Sarah Lux, the doctor who had diagnosed Leigh Ann’s colon cancer. Years later, Karen had a doctor appointment with her and Sarah mentioned the tiara. Sarah told Karen that when she was having a hard day, she would often put the tiara on to make herself feel better. “She laughed as she told me that more than once she forgot she still had it on and answered the door or even ran errands while wearing it,” Karen says. “Hearing that meant so much to me. It showed that this small, simple crown carried something deeper, a reminder of strength and light.”
So, Karen finally found the perfect way to honor her sister, and all the brave women who battle cancer. “Leigh Ann had a way of lighting up a room and making people feel special,” she says. “The name Leigh Ann’s Light felt perfect. The tiara became a symbol of that light, a reminder that women are still strong, beautiful, and powerful even in the middle of a dark cancer treatment.”
She started the organization in February 2025 while recovering from knee surgery and having a few months of downtime. She says the first tiaras she delivered, she did so on crutches, something that was poignant for her, as Leigh Ann had spent so many years using them herself.
“Walking into those cancer centers on crutches myself felt like a small reminder of the strength and hardship she carried through her life,” Karen shares. “In a way, it felt like she was walking beside me as Leigh Ann’s Light began.”
Helping Local Cancer Patients
Each tiara comes with a message of hope – letting the wearers know there are people out there thinking about them, and reminding them of how strong and brave they are. “The note reminds women that they are far more than a cancer patient: they are warriors, goddesses, and women of incredible courage,” adds Karen.
Part of the message is: “As you place this tiara on your head, may it remind you of your courage, dignity, and grace. Wear it as a crown of strength, resilience, and unwavering hope.”
Although she started the project alone, in just a short year, it has grown into a community effort, she says. Family and friends help her assemble the gift bags that hold the tiara and the messages. “My niece prints the messages, my daughter helps with the wording, and my mom supports the project through donations,” Karen adds. “A friend, Beth Glander, donated funds for 10 tiaras in honor of her sister, a breast cancer survivor. Carie Bussey, CNM, ARNP, RNAS-C, from Providence Swedish Obstetrics and Gynecology, has helped by giving tiaras to patients who need a reminder of their strength.”
She reaches out to local cancer and oncology centers, including Providence Regional Cancer System, Vista Oncology, the Kaiser Permanente Infusion Center and others, to find women to give tiaras to. “Because of HIPAA privacy rules, I cannot personally hand the tiaras to patients, so I deliver them to nurses and staff who then give them to women during treatment,” she adds. “The caregivers are the ones who place the tiara in a patient’s hands at just the right moment.”
One recipient shared: “I received my tiara from a dear friend who is a cancer survivor. I was really struggling and had decided not to do my last round of chemo. But then I received this tiara and read Leigh Ann’s story, and I realized I had the strength to do one more. I proudly wore my tiara when I rang the bell!”
Another woman said: “I had decided I wasn’t going to do my final round of chemo. Then I received this tiara and read Leigh Ann’s story. I realized I did have the strength to do one more so I could proudly wear my tiara and ring the bell.”
“That’s the kind of impact a simple $3 tiara can have, bringing courage, hope, and a sense of being seen during an incredibly challenging time,” says Karen.
Leigh Ann’s Light is sponsored by the Mayday Foundation as well, which allows them to apply for grants. Over their first year, they have given out over 600 tiaras to women battling cancer in our area.
You can help by joining the community on the Leigh Ann’s Light Facebook page. They love to hear about any grant opportunities or other ways to support their mission. “Every bit of help keeps Leigh Ann’s spirit alive and brings hope, light, and strength to women during a challenging time,” shares Karen.
“This project has always been about honoring my sister and sharing the light she brought into the world,” she continues. “Leigh Ann had a way of making people feel seen and special, and, in a small way, these tiaras carry that same spirit forward.”
