Plano breast cancer survivors Peggy Slattery, Gigi Steele and Kathy Johnson shined bright yesterday at the Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano Breast Cancer Survivor Tea as she and others proudly modeled their fashionable and personally designed tea hats for guests. The event was held in honor of breast cancer awareness month at Lavendou Bistro Provencol in North Dallas.
Porsche Montgomery, wardrobe stylist, gave a brief fashion segment with tips on this season’s trends in hat and scarves and how to pair them with various clothing pieces.
In addition to enjoying tea and pastries, survivors shared words of inspiration and wisdom they have gained while walking through breast cancer.
Wisdom from a Survivor:
Peggy Slattery: “My journey through breast surgery and radiation was a lonely and fearful time. That is why I feel strongly about being there to hold others’ hands, answer some of their questions, laugh with them with tears in their eyes, to enjoy the comfort of a hug, but most of all to offer a breast cancer friend to help her along in her journey.”
Gigi Steele: “I was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2008, and last year I became certified to be a Reach to Recovery Volunteer. I feel we are all very lucky to have such an outstanding group of professionals to guide us on this journey. And best of all we are survivors!”
Kathy Johnson: “I was diagnosed in April of 2005, and I’m now a six and a half year survivor. During my journey of choosing wig and mastectomy products, I learned a lot about what women need and want. This experience led to a shared vision with a co-worker, Jennifer, who also had a passion for helping those battling cancer. Our vision led to a recovery boutique called, Survivor Gals that provides women recovering from cancer with the specialty products they need in an environment that allows their friends and family to participate. Most importantly, Survivor Gals allows these women to feel special and pampered. I’m also a Reach to Recovery Volunteer.”
Barbara King: “I am so thankful for all my friends and family that extended their hands to me in prayer, to hold, helping me with dressing changes, making food, hugging me, and writing words of encouragement to me during my treatment. It is now my personal joy to extend my hands out to others facing the challenge to fight this disease that affects so many of our loved ones. I have a survivor younger sister and two survivor first cousins, along with several close friends that have also gone through treatment for breast cancer. I can't stress how important early detection is, so please get screened. I believe it is a life saving step!”
Elaine Ray: “As I look back over my journey to this point, I feel a profound sense of gratitude for the prayers, thoughts, and encouragement through which my husband, other family members and friends have sustained me. Besides my personal circle of support, I am thankful for the many women who have gone before me who, along with their doctors and researchers, have made possible numerous advances in the treatment of breast cancer. As I have told others, if you have to get cancer, breast cancer is the way to go.”
Debbie Stalling: “The day of my diagnosis was the day I became a survivor. I knew that day I wanted to help others through their journey. During my recovery from surgeries and doctor appointments, I launched my website www.PinkRibbonJourneyBags.com. I have been blessed to have met so many wonderful breast cancer survivors throughout my journey, and they are now my survivor sisters. I just celebrated my four year survivorship day October 17th.”
Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano is a 128-bed acute care hospital committed to serving North Texas residents with personalized care and advanced technology on a beautiful campus with hotel-like amenities and all private rooms. Services at the not-for-profit, fully-accredited facility include treatment for advanced spine deformities at the Baylor Scoliosis Center, neurosciences, orthopedics, medical and radiation oncology, surgical weight loss, women’s services, gynecology, urology, gastroenterology, pulmonary medicine, pain management, diabetes management and more. Patients have access to digital imaging onsite at Baylor Plano, the Baylor Diagnostic Imaging Center at Craig Ranch, an outpatient department of Baylor Plano and the Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano Elizabeth Jekot, MD Breast Imaging Center. The hospital is the first in North Dallas and Collin County to offer minimally invasive robotic surgery for procedures through the FDA-approved da Vinci® S Surgical System. Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano ranks fourth on U.S. News & World Report's first-ever Best Hospitals metro area ranking for the Dallas/Fort Worth area and was named a top performer by The joint Commission. Baylor Plano is also a 2010 recipient of the Texas Award for Performance Excellence and houses an Accredited Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeons Commissions on Cancer. Baylor Plano is the first hospital in Collin County to be accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. Jerri Garison is president of Baylor Plano. For more information, or a physician referral, call toll free 1-800-4-BAYLOR or log onto www.BaylorHealth.com/Plano.
CONTACT:
Kayci Prince
469.814.2109
KayciPri@baylorhealth.edu
Janeen Browning
469.814.2107
janeenbr@baylorhealth.edu
About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White is empowering customers to live well by reimagining traditional healthcare — creating more convenient, personalized and informed experiences. It serves more than three million customers through 53 hospitals, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple; the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute; 1,300+ access points; 59,000+ team members; and its leading digital platform — MyBSWHealth. The system's award-winning employer solutions include Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and Levanto — a company offering digitally enabled health products. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White's mission is to promote the health and well-being of all individuals, families and communities. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com
