Showing posts with label Southeast Georgia Health System. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Southeast Georgia Health System. Show all posts

Monday, November 15, 2010

What an inspiration!

Last week, I overheard a wonderful conversation. A local lady was gushing about what a hero my boss, Britt Figueroa, has become in our St Simons Island/Brunswick, Georgia community.

Most mortal humans, rightfully so, cannot handle the pressures of having cancer, telling loved ones, going through treatments, and perhaps even having one of your precious breasts chopped off your body.

Britt not only handled it for herself and her children, but she also listened to the pleas of all the other cancer patients she kept meeting. These people with cancer were talking about the ever-expanding bills for cancer treatments and that many would have to file bankruptcy in order to save their homes. Or they would choose to have the cancer removed, but have absolutely no followup care.

Britt knew that, in order to regain health, the last thing these people should be worrying about is money, yet all too frequently, this is the harsh reality. They were too young to get benefits from Medicare and had too many assets to qualify for other aid agencies.

So, in the midst of her own cancer nightmare (and while caring for her two lovely children), she conceived, created, and coalesced her new company, BoobieHeadInc. and started Your Cancer Care foundation. The sole purpose of the fund is to assist cancer patients to pay their bills and prevent bankruptcies. She works with our local hospital Southeast Georgia Health System and others to pay for Glynn County Georgia patient bills. Later, her plan is to expand way beyond Glynn County to assist other Americans.

I knew her story and admire her courage: that's why I work with her. But, somehow, listening to that woman enthusiastically fawning over Britt, what she has overcome and created to help others in a very few months, I am inspired anew.

Let's do this, people!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month


Do you and your loved ones know:
• 1 in 8 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime?
• Over 30% of women are diagnosed after breast cancer has spread.
• When breast cancer is detected early, the 5-year survival rate is 98%.
Prevention:
• Limit alchohol use
• Maintain healthy weight
• Stay physically active
• Limit fat in your diet
• Annual exams by your doctor, who should teach you how to exam yourself
• Self-inspection of your breasts, every month
• Mammograms every 2 years
Local Info:
• Our hospital, SGHS Brunswick, is giving free mammograms this month to women who are eligible due to financial or insurance issues.
• Through Oct. 28- Art-rageous Fundraiser Themed Bras created by physicians, healthcare workers, volunteers, and local artists. Vote for your favorite bra - $1 per vote, proceeds to benefit SGHS cancer programs; bras auctioned off at end of exhibit. Southeast Georgia Health System Outpatient Care Center Art Gallery, Bwk. Art Downtown/Gallery 209: 262-0628, ArtDowntownGallery209.com, sghs.org