It was a normal day in the office and the phone rang, one of the nurses in the Shelby county health department had just done a clinical breast exam on a 34 year old who had breast lumps in both breasts. She requested a mammogram and ultrasound. I sent her our voucher to pay for the screenings.
The next week she called very teary and said the doctor who had done the screenings said he had never seen a more serious case and was almost positive she had breast cancer and it was serious! She has three small children and the nurse was going to have to call her in and break the news.
We both were very teary eyed for a moment and then went into rescue mode and made appointments and sent vouchers to pay for her surgery and pathology screening. The woman followed all instructions and went through some serious days of battling for her health after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
The nurse at Shelby county called to thank Joy to Life and share the wonderful news the woman did well through all of her journey! We laughed that day!!! I am happy to report the woman is healthy today because of early detection and care! She is very grateful to Joy to Life for assistance in obtaining the screening and surgery she needed.
The women of Alabama so deserve this service we provide through the Joy to Life Foundation!
My name is Jackie and I am a breast cancer survivor. I know first hand that early detection saved my life. I am very blessed to work at Joy to Life and help these women have success stories each day!
If you know of someone who has symptoms and needs a screening but does not have insurance, please encourage them to go to their local health department or federal health clinic and get a clinical breast exam. The nurse will either call us for under the ages of 40 or call the state Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program if they are over 40.
So we will go another day here at the Joy to Life office with the assurance we are making a difference in the lives of the women and men of Alabama!