{"id":616675,"date":"2026-10-02T02:24:56","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T02:24:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.olympiajournal.com\/news\/story\/616675\/before-her-120-surgery-victoria-cuore-goes-live-from-preop-to-open-domestic-violence-awareness-month-i-believe-you.html"},"modified":"2026-10-02T02:24:56","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T02:24:56","slug":"before-her-120-surgery-victoria-cuore-goes-live-from-preop-to-open-domestic-violence-awareness-month-i-believe-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pennsylvania-magazine.com\/news\/story\/616675\/before-her-120-surgery-victoria-cuore-goes-live-from-preop-to-open-domestic-violence-awareness-month-i-believe-you.html","title":{"rendered":"Before Her 120+ Surgery, Victoria Cuore Goes Live From Pre-Op to Open Domestic Violence Awareness Month: \u201cI Believe You\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Before<\/a><\/div>\n
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\u201cYou do not have to find the perfect words or tell your whole story to deserve someone who listens,\u201d said Victoria Cuore, founder of A Contagious Smile. \u201cI believe you. I believe in you. What happened to you does not diminish your worth, and needing support does not diminish your strength.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
On October 1, the survivor and A Contagious Smile founder will reach out from her pre-op room with the message she once needed herself: you deserve to be believed, supported, and heard.<\/div>\n

ATLANTA, GEORGIA, USA – October 02, 2026 –<\/strong> On October 1, the first day of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Victoria Cuore plans to speak live from her pre-op room before undergoing another surgery. Having endured more than 120 surgeries, she will use that moment to reach survivors and their loved ones with a message she once needed herself: “I believe you.”<\/p>\n

Cuore survived domestic violence while pregnant with her daughter. She knows that the consequences of abuse can continue long after a survivor escapes. Medical procedures, emotional pain, and the work of rebuilding a life can stretch across years. Her October 1 appearance will acknowledge that reality while helping people find understanding, resources, and connection.<\/p>\n

“I am going live from my pre-op room to show you that you are not going through this alone,” said Cuore. “I went through all of the aftermath alone, and I don’t want that for anyone else. I believe you. I believe in you. You deserve to be heard, valued, and supported.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Cuore is completely deaf in her right ear and has lost approximately 88% of the hearing in her left. She has had both jaws and a shoulder replaced, undergone multiple spinal surgeries, and is a left below-elbow amputee. She shares her experiences openly to make the lasting consequences of domestic violence visible and help others feel less alone.<\/p>\n

She will also speak to friends and family members about supporting a survivor: listening without blame, respecting their decisions, and offering care without demanding disclosure or a particular timeline.<\/p>\n

CONNECTION THAT BEGINS AT YOUR PACE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cuore founded A Contagious Smile to help people find the understanding and connection she went without. Its peer-to-peer support directory allows survivors, caregivers, and loved ones to learn about support partners with relevant lived experience and choose whom they would like to contact.<\/p>\n

Visitors decide what to share, how quickly to move, and whether to continue the conversation. For someone whose voice and decisions have been dismissed or controlled, that choice matters.<\/p>\n

“You do not have to find the perfect words or tell your whole story to deserve someone who listens,” said Cuore. “I believe you. I believe in you. What happened to you does not diminish your worth, and needing support does not diminish your strength.”<\/p>\n

Peer support complements emergency, medical, mental health, and legal services. Readers can explore the directory and other resources at acontagioussmile.com.<\/p>\n

HELP SHOULD NOT DEPEND ON A BANK ACCOUNT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Founded in 2006, A Contagious Smile offers educational resources, podcasts, and programs for survivors, caregivers, special-needs families, veterans, and people navigating grief, disability, or chronic illness.<\/p>\n

Its multi-award-winning A Contagious Smile Academy has provided more than 900 scholarships, reflecting Cuore’s belief that a person’s bank account should never determine whether they can receive help.<\/p>\n

Cuore and her husband, Michael, have funded the work themselves and have never taken a paycheck from it. As the community has grown internationally, sustaining that commitment has become increasingly difficult.<\/p>\n

Readers who want to help sustain Academy scholarships and resources can visit buymeacoffee.com\/victoriacuore. Their support helps carry forward the purpose that led Cuore to build A Contagious Smile: helping people facing the aftermath of trauma find education, understanding, and connection.<\/p>\n

Cuore has received more than 14 awards, including two Lifetime Humanitarian Awards, and was named #2 Top Women Leader in Empowerment 2026.<\/p>\n

STRONGER THAN A MOUNTAIN<\/strong><\/p>\n

Victoria and her husband, Michael, also share their message of resilience through Stronger Than A Mountain, their apparel and coffee brand. Its name reflects the strength people carry through experiences others may never see, a message connected to their commitment to survivors, caregivers, veterans, and people living with disability.<\/p>\n

Readers can explore the apparel and coffee collection at strongerthanamountain.com. Its name reflects the strength people carry through experiences others may never see, a message connected to her advocacy for survivors, caregivers, and people living with disability.<\/p>\n

Readers can explore the apparel and coffee collection at strongerthanamountain.com.<\/p>\n

HELP BRING SURVIVOR VOICES TO A WIDER AUDIENCE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cuore hosts A Contagious Smile Podcast, which Listen Notes ranks among the top 5% of podcasts globally on its platform. The show features conversations with survivors, advocates, and caregivers.<\/p>\n

She has also been selected to compete in Top Host 2026. The grand prize includes a six-episode podcast produced by iHeartRadio, $25,000, and a guest appearance on an episode of On Air with Ryan Seacrest.<\/p>\n

Cuore hopes the opportunity will extend the work she has dedicated her life to: giving survivors, caregivers, and families a place to speak honestly and feel heard. Her vision is a podcast where people can share the realities of surviving abuse, living with disability, and caring for loved ones—and where listeners can find understanding, practical resources, and hope.<\/p>\n

Public voting opens October 5, 2026, at 1 p.m. Eastern \/ 10 a.m. Pacific. Eligible supporters can cast one free vote every 24 hours after completing the competition’s verification process.<\/p>\n

Vote for Victoria Cuore beginning October 5:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/tophost.org\/2026\/victoria-cuore<\/a><\/p>\n

ABOUT A CONTAGIOUS SMILE<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Contagious Smile, LLC, founded in 2006 by survivor advocate Victoria Cuore, provides peer connection, education, podcasts, and resources for survivors, caregivers, special-needs families, veterans, and people navigating trauma, grief, disability, or chronic illness. Its work is grounded in lived experience, compassion, and respect for each person’s voice and choices.<\/p>\n

Find resources and explore peer-to-peer support:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/acontagioussmile.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Explore Stronger Than A Mountain apparel and coffee:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/strongerthanamountain.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Support Academy scholarships and resources:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/buymeacoffee.com\/victoriacuore<\/a><\/p>\n

MEDIA CONTACT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Victoria Cuore<\/p>\n

Founder, A Contagious Smile<\/p>\n

Email: victoria@acontagioussmile.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Media Contact<\/span>
Company Name:<\/strong> A Contagious Smile, LLC<\/a>
Contact Person:<\/strong> Victoria Cuore
Email:<\/strong> Send Email<\/a>
Country:<\/strong> United States
Website:<\/strong> https:\/\/www.acontagioussmile.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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