STARCommunity Living Waters Spa Celebrates Life After Breast Cancer By Jackie Devereaux DESERT HOT SPRINGS, C A – To help bring more awareness and early detection to the issue of breast cancer, a local businesswoman offers discounts to her therapeutic and spa, along with a retrospective about her battle against the deadly disease. Judy Bowman, along with her husband Jeff, own the Living Waters Spa, along Mountain View Road in Desert Hot Springs notable for their iconic neon sign “Kismet,” which was recently restored to its original beauty. The Bowman’s want to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness month by offering a 50 percent discount off all room rates for Breast Cancer survivors. All proceeds from spa services and massage treatments this month will go to Breast Cancer research. The couple invites the public to enjoy their pristine natural hot mineral spring waters, get a massage and support Breast Cancer research. Judy, who is a breast cancer survivor, shares her personal story: “In 1992 I heard the words most women dread, ‘I’m sorry, it is cancer.’” “Jeff and I were about to move 350 miles to a new job for him with our four children, ages eight to 15. We all made
Judy Bowman in 1992 appointments for routine physicals with our familiar doctors before the big move. At my exam I asked my physician whether or not I should get a mammogram; I was only 38. He hesitated but said okay. “Later on the afternoon of the test I received a call from the doctor, saying there was something on the film, and he had made an appointment for me to see a surgeon two days later. I naively was not worried, and continued working toward our move, which by now was only 10 days away. Jeff wisely suggested we stop packing until we saw the doctor. When we saw him he said he wanted to schedule a biopsy, which we were able to do that coming Monday. I was in recovery when I
heard those fateful words, ‘I’m sorry, it is cancer.’” “Those words caused our world to stop and we quickly became knowledgeable about the disease. My path became a mastectomy and ‘tram flap’ reconstruction a month later, followed by six months of chemotherapy. Jeff, my family and friends were wonderfully supportive. “Fast forward to the present time, and I can proudly say that I am a breast cancer survivor. I have been able to go along the journey with a number of friends and guests as they dealt with the disease. There’s something about the understanding you can only get from someone who has been there. “So in celebration, we would like to embrace other breast cancer survivors and offer them an amazing deal at our resort. If you are a survivor, we offer you a 50 percent discount on room rates during the month of October. Come and celebrate life with us.” Twenty years ago, Judy was diagnosed with breast cancer because of early detection. “Back in that time I was working in the computer industry and had really good health insurance,” said her husband Jeff. “Before our big
Jeff and Judy Bowman, owners of Living Waters Spa move we decided to use that insurance and get the kids and ourselves a full round of medical check-ups. After the kids were done, it was Judy’s turn and after a cursory exam where the doctor did a few pokes here and there, Judy had the wherewithal to ask if she could get a mammogram. “The doctor asked her how old she was, and she said ’38.’ The doctor said that they usually wait until age 40 but said okay. If he would have said ‘No’ Judy would have gone along with it. If we had waited…who knows,
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she might not be alive today,” he said. “When I hear that some people are saying women should wait until they’re 50 to have a mammogram is just crazy to me,” he added. “Woman shouldn’t wait.” You can reach the Bowman’s at the Living Waters Spa located at 13340 Mountain View Road two blocks south of Hacienda Avenue in Desert Hot Springs. Call 760-329-9988 or go to
PALM SPRINGS October 11, 2012
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