Photo Gary Yon Photography
A GLIMMER OF HOPE
Diana Napper and the Glimmer of Hope Foundation grant new
technology and awareness for breast cancer patients of Allegheny
Health Network’s Wexford Health & Wellness Pavilion.
BY NICOLE TAFE
I
n October 2014, the Wexford Health & Wellness Pavilion received
Napper, known in her childhood as Diana Grundza, grew up on
and began operating one of the first machines of its kind in the
the North Side of Pittsburgh and attended Oliver High School. Upon
United States, thanks to the hard work and determination of Diana
graduation she pursued a career in outside sales in New Jersey in
Napper and the Glimmer of Hope Foundation.
1979. In 1986 she and her husband, Milt Napper,
The SenoClair tomosynthesis unit and its
moved back to Pittsburgh and they, with their four
workstation now service approximately 50
children — Amanda, Justin, Ryan and Alexis — now
mammograms for women each week, and the
live in McCandless Township.
numbers continue to grow. The machine uniquely
Moving back to Pittsburgh was very hard for
provides three‑dimensional breast imaging using
Napper, as she had to leave behind her best friend,
low-dose X-rays to photograph nine layers of breast
Carol Jo Weiss Friedman, who was dying of breast
tissue, which helps doctors differentiate benign from
cancer. Friedman had always encouraged Napper
Photo courtesy Allegheny Health Network
dangerous abnormalities and detect the earliest stages
to pursue her dreams of opening a jewelry business.
of cancer. Allegheny Health Network was the first
Before her death, Friedman made Napper promise to
center in the nation to install the unit and received the technology
pursue that dream, and Napper promised in retur