This line of cards is a THANK YOU to Dr. Haley L. Nakata.

Because of her, my god daughter went and got herself a mammogram - which came back positive for breast cancer. Age 34.

Despite the american Cancer Society’s recommendation of mammograms at age 40.

Early detection is everything. .  

The card line is named The Haley Collection in honor of Haley,  who dedicated her whole life to learning and helping everyone she could, working as a fellow surgeon at Duke Uni, then landing the prestigious job at Vanderbilt University, where she would both perform hand surgery and train the next generation of surgeons.

Haley was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer during her fellowship so while she didn’t get to continue her path of surgery and teaching, she does get to continue her path healing and fixing everyone through ongoing scholarship funds and funded research programs at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, Duke University and Vanderbilt.  All in her name.

A little personal look at Haley, whom you can tell by her scholastic achievements aced everything all the time .. Studying and performing surgeries was just a part of her.  Friendships and deep relationships were ALL IMPORTANT to Haley - who else has 15 bridesmaids at her wedding?  

Of course  Haley attracted the most important person in her life, her adored boyfriend-turned-husband, who for 11 years has been her greatest champion and fan and who continues to this day to support the schools’ scholarships funds and research programs, carrying the torch for her.

And then there’s the long list of friends, and her fellow orthopedic surgery med school cohorts who jokingly called themselves “The Lady-Boners”.  When those friends and fellow exhausted cohorts occasionally questioned themselves and felt down, Haley was there to lift them up, signing all her texts with caterpillar emojis - which meant that if they hung in there, they were destined to transition to butterflies.  

So this line is for her - in memory of the remarkable, lovable, hope-filled, life-loving Haley, who's left an ocean of friends and loved ones so touched by her that the mere mention of her name prompts us immediately to say her name out loud, “Oh, Haleyyyyyy …” and smile.  



The Haley Nakata Foundation is being established to honor Haley’s legacy and unwavering commitment to helping others. The Foundation will, among other things, expand access to early cancer screenings and genetic testing.

In her honor, USC is naming a scholarship in Haley's name for a Junior Resident who exemplifies hard work and going above and beyond. At Duke, they have a named position entitled the Duke Hand Society Haley Nakata Visiting Professorship and they will work and instruct the Hand Surgery Fellows in the program.