MAGAZINE A publication about the people who care for our patients. Vol. 2, Issue 2
A Helping Hand ALSO INSIDE Overcoming Cancer One Coworker’s Courageous Fight Improving Lives of Moms and Babies Hot Springs Clinic Provides Resources A Trip They’ll Never Forget
Overcoming A Cancer WITH COURAGE AND CONVICTION
t 43 years old with a 13-yearold son, Kristina Garcia never imagined that she would be diagnosed with – and beat – an exceptionally rare and aggressive form of cancer called inflammatory breast cancer. She noticed redness of the skin on her left breast around Thanksgiving 2015, but because her yearly mammogram was coming up, she decided to postpone seeing a doctor. After her mammogram came back completely clear, Kristina put her worries out of her mind. It was only after a bad sinus infection that required multiple rounds of antibiotics that she realized the reddened area on her breast was more than just a rash. “Doctors had given me steroids and oral antibiotics for my sinus infection, and I knew that it should have cleared up whatever was happening on my breast. It had actually gotten worse in that time, and I knew I was in trouble,” remembers Kristina. “My internet search about visual changes on the breast kept turning up as inflammatory breast cancer, and I really started to get scared.” With inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), the majority of cases have no lumps, which means it cannot be identified with a mammogram. Cancer cells block lymph vessels in the skin of the breast, and by the time the cancer reveals itself through the swelling and/or reddening of the victim’s breast, the disease has already reached Stage 3.
Kristina GARCIA 3 years // Market Magnet Manager
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Before becoming a nurse, Kristina was a certified pet stylist who worked in retail for 10 years.
Kristina faced a long road to her IBC diagnosis – in fact, none of her doctors had even seen a case of this cancer. She was told that her breast redness did not coincide with the symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer. Kristina advocated for herself time and again with her OB/GYN and the radiologist, who were overseeing the results of testing.
After nearly three months, Kristina got the diagnosis she feared. The next hurdle she had to overcome was finding the right course of treatment. Kristina— and even her physicians—didn’t understand IBC is treated in an entirely different way than other forms of breast cancer. Seeking understanding and support, Kristina started connecting with women online who were living with or had beaten IBC. “The survivors I spoke with warned me against the treatment plan my local oncologist had put me on. They strongly encouraged me to get a second opinion from MD Anderson, which at the time of my diagnosis, was the only hospital in the country with a specific clinic dedicated to treating this aggressive disease. Thankfully, I was able to get that second opinion and MD Anderson confirmed the diagnosis. The doctor I saw there shared her recommended IBC treatment protocol with my local oncologist, which included a full course of chemotherapy before a radical, non-skin sparing mastectomy, followed by 36 rounds of radiation,” says Kristina. “After treatment, I received news that many do not – I had a complete response to the chemo and my cancer was staged at a 0 after surgery. That alone increased my chance of 5-year survival from 40 to 80 percent.” Through it all, Kristina was supported, loved and encouraged by her son, her
parents and a large network of friends – those in real life and those she met through online support. Today, she keeps in touch with these same women who live all around the world, and she shares her experience at every opportunity. Her son recently asked why she still stays in close contact now that she’s no longer fighting IBC. She quickly reminded him the reason she’s here today is because someone took the time to educate her, share resources, answer her questions and be supportive in extremely trying times. “I don’t know why I’m still here when so many other women aren’t, but I know that I need to be available for the woman who is diagnosed today or tomorrow and needs answers and needs hope.” Today, Kristina has fully recovered and works tirelessly to educate women about IBC and the importance of advocating for their health. She’s also grateful for the gift of life she’s been given and the time she has to spend with her son. “Going through this trial felt like hell on Earth, and there were times that I didn’t think I was going to live. I just kept focusing on the things I wanted to teach my son to do – to drive, to fill out a job application, to graduate and help him prepare for college,” says Kristina. “I’m so thankful I have the opportunity to be here for those milestones, and I don’t want to waste one minute of my second chance at life.”
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is very rare – it accounts for only 1 to 5 percent of all invasive breast cancers and has a five-year survival rate of just 40 percent. The condition is hard to recognize and difficult to diagnose because most women do not feel a lump in their breast like other forms of the disease, and it is often misdiagnosed as mastitis. IBC doesn’t present like typical breast cancer. Common symptoms include breast swelling, red or purple skin or thickening or pitting of the breast tissue so that it looks like an orange peel. Other symptoms include a flattened or inverted nipple or a breast that feels warm, is tender to the touch, itchy or painful. Symptoms aren’t noticeable until the cancer is in advanced stages. This is why it’s important to take note of your breast health and notify your doctor immediately if you have any breast changes. Feel empowered to seek a second opinion and keep asking questions until you feel confident that a proper diagnosis is reached. To learn more, visit The IBC Network Foundation at www.theibcnetwork.org.
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Clint HENSON 27 years // OB/GYN Hot Springs
F U N FAC T Dr. Henson lives on a ranch, raising Angus cattle and American quarter horses. He loves to participate in team roping competitions.
Improving the Lives of Moms – and Their Babies
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ll of his life, Clint Henson planned to become a veterinarian. It was during college when an advisor recommended he apply to medical school that he changed course. Although he enjoyed all his rotations, he landed on obstetrics and gynecology. Veterinary medicine is heavily focused on the miracle of reproduction, and in medical school Dr. Henson discovered that it was the miracle of life that completely captivated him. “It’s such a privilege to be involved with and help assist in bringing a new life into the world – it’s really a blessing that I don’t take for granted,” he says.
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In 1992 after completing medical school, Dr. Henson came to Hot Springs to start his practice. He noticed quickly that many women he encountered in the hospital giving birth did not have good prenatal care – and it was impacting both mothers and babies. They were showing up with complications, and there were no records to give insight on how to best handle the situation. “I approached the hospital about a partnership because we didn’t have the infrastructure in place to provide the help people needed. I knew we could provide much better care if we could offer free prenatal services to women in our community and southwest Arkansas,” says Dr. Henson. “What started from humble beginnings has grown into a program that has truly made a difference – adequate prenatal care means that physicians can intervene appropriately and offer care to women who would otherwise go without it,” says Marsha Oliver, nurse manager of Women’s Services at Hot Springs. Today the CHI St. Vincent Community Care–Pregnancy Clinic provides prenatal and obstetrical care for expectant mothers as
As the program has matured, Dr. Henson turned his attention to other ways he could support families’ educational needs. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was the perfect way to provide educational resources to children after they left the hospital. The Imagination Library, which mails free books to children each month from birth to age five, was inspired by Dolly’s father’s inability to read and write. Dr. Henson shared Dolly’s vision and wanted to bring the program to the
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It’s such a privilege to be involved with and help assist in bringing a new life into the world – it’s really a blessing that I don’t take for granted.
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well as nutritional counseling, social workers and financial counseling services to help ensure every mother has a healthy pregnancy. In addition to support and encouragement, women can also enroll in Pals in Pregnancy, an educational program that helps with diapers, wipes and key baby supplies.
children of this community. Hot Springs is the only hospital in Arkansas that automatically enrolls children in the program at birth.
“Our primary goal was to enhance the literacy of all children who are born here. The literary experts who select these book titles ensure they are appropriate for the child’s age and are designed to instill a love of reading,” says Dr. Henson. “The statistics about the importance of early reading are clear – there’s an increased likelihood of graduating from
high school and from college. Reading really opens their world,” says Marsha. “It’s one more way we’re all working together to provide the highest level of care for mothers and babies through pregnancy, delivery and beyond.”
Anthony Childbirth Center Enhances Mother/Baby Services Renovations are nearly complete, and the Anthony Childbirth Center is slated to open in December. The private unit includes large birthing suites equipped with the latest technology and comfort to ensure the safest labor and delivery possible. The homelike environment enables mother and family to stay in the same room throughout labor, delivery, recovery and post-partum. “Having mom and baby in the same room means we have more opportunities to educate on infant care, the importance of safe sleep, provide breast feeding support and to foster the mother/baby bond with more skin-to-skin time,” says Marsha. “Every element of the suite has been specifically designed to make mothers and families feel supported after birth.” “Everything we’re doing – from the new facility, to the new programming, to the higher level of education and training of our staff – is designed to keep mom and baby together and to elevate the level of care and services we provide every day,” she says. OneSpirit Magazine | Fall 2019 | 4
2019
HERITAGE WEEK
AWARD RECIPIENTS Quotes taken from nominations
Sister Margaret Vincent Blandford Leadership Award (Central Arkansas)
Dean Patrick McCruden Leadership Award (Hot Springs)
Sister Dorothy Calhoun Service Excellence Award (Hot Springs)
Kristina Garcia
“Kris is proud to be a leader, a role that others often begrudge, shirk or misjudge. She is a champion’s champion, a service-leader and a magnifier who is eager to participate and contribute. If I were to choose to follow in the footsteps of someone that has, in a very few years, solidified a heritage of leadership, excellence, knowledge and passion, I most assuredly and confidently would choose Kristina. I believe if Sister Margaret were here today, she would choose Kristina to carry this torch in her name.”
Marsha Oliver
“Marsha listens to the needs of our patients and works with us to achieve those goals. She is always there to help us be the best nurses we can be. Marsha seeks out ways to assist her staff in any way to make our jobs more efficient--making rounds to improve our patient satisfaction, answering the phone and helping with the door in times when we ‘need just a little help,’ helping at the clinic when they need an extra person and listening to our needs and complaints with a smile.“
Betty Sorenson
“Betty is a great example of what the ministry is. She is a very exceptional person, cares for everyone, lives a Godly life, and it shows in her actions to others. She is a blessing to have as a coworker and to have the privilege of knowing her. I don’t know of anyone who will have a negative thing to say about her. …Betty always puts others before herself and has never once complained about her sickness or job that has been asked of her.”
Jeffrey Miller, MD Dr. Michael Young Physician Award (Hot Springs)
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“Dr. Miller is a great example of what a physician should be. His patients love and respect him because he’s kind and compassionate. During office visits and surgery consultations, he takes into consideration each patient’s feelings and fears during his examination and treatment. Dr. Miller takes the time to explain a diagnosis and procedure to patients in a way they can understand. …It is a joy to work with someone so committed to the health of his patients.”
CHI ST. VINCENT
HERITAGE WEEK ESTABLISHED 1888
Sister Teresa Joseph Babcock Service Excellence Award (Infirmary, Medical Group, Morrilton and North)
Infirmary: Lisa Olsen “She is well respected by physicians, nurses and coworkers because of her compassion for her patients, dedication to her profession and commitment to service. She fully embodies our core values in every encounter with patients, families, visitors and colleagues. Lisa demonstrates selflessness and genuine concern for all she meets. … Lisa has made a significant impact in the lives of her patients, those with disabilities, future health care professionals and coworkers. All who know Lisa view her career as extraordinary and her contributions invaluable to the organization and community.”
Medical Group: Heidi Harris “Heidi is the perfect example of all of the core values that CHI St. Vincent upholds. She is a woman of faith and believes in the power of prayer (and of hugs). I have patients come to me and let me know that the only reason they keep coming to our clinic is because of Heidi’s kindness and patience. She can lift the spirits of everyone in a room and her constant positivity and helpfulness spreads to anyone she is around. She goes above and beyond for any and every patient and for all of her coworkers. Our clinic would not be the same without her as the first face that our patients see when entering the building.”
Morrilton: Ashley Sommers “Ashley is always willing to go above and beyond the call of duty with a patient first attitude. She exemplifies our core values of Reverence, Integrity, Compassion and Excellence. She is certainly a team player that is flexible and is willing and very capable of working alone. She has a safety first attitude for all patients. She is kind and very humble. She is an asset to the imaging profession. We are blessed to have her as a member of the Morrilton imaging department, facility and health system. Words do not truly describe why Ashley deserves this award, but her actions certainly do on a daily basis.”
North: Jennifer Carnahan “Jennifer is a leader, a teacher, a subject matter expert in case preparation and surgical scrub performance in neurosurgery and a valued team member. Each day she always works to ensure our team members have the appropriate instruments, supplies and staff, even if that means she stays past her scheduled time to help finish a case. ...She supports the ANI Physicians and her coworkers in such a way that not only leads to excellent patient care but also leads to enriching the growth potential of our new team members while inspiring everyone to always be EXCELLENT.”
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A Helping Hand W
hen Laura Hutts was 18 years old and a week away from going to college, she was in an accident that would change her life forever. A man’s car swerved into her lane, causing her vehicle to flip three times. Laura sustained major injuries to both of her hands. Her left hand was degloved– meaning the soft tissues and tendons were ripped down to the bone—and some of her fingers were gone. These injuries
would require a series of surgeries over several months, including orthopedic reconstruction. “I was planning to be a journalism major, but my world completely changed with my accident. Before therapy I was so down about what I couldn’t do. I had been a baton twirler, a clarinet player and had academic scholarships to college, but I didn’t know if I would ever do those things again,” remembers Laura. “That all changed when I started occupational therapy where I learned that I could do many of the same things. Most importantly, I learned to have the courage to try.”
Not only did it help her self-esteem, therapy also clarified for Laura what she was supposed to do with her life. She was determined to become a therapist who focused on hand and upper limb extremity injuries. Since graduating from college, Laura has achieved the highest level of training available for upper limb rehabilitation, which requires at least three years of clinical experience, 4,000 hours of direct hand therapy practice 4 years // Certified Hand Therapist and completion of advanced Hot Springs clinical skills and theory. F U N FAC T Laura is the only occupational Laura and her sister compete in autocross therapist in the CHI St. Vincent racing. This form of motorsports is a timed system with this certification. competition where drivers race through
Laura HUTTS
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a defined course on a sealed or unsealed surface.
In her work, she helps patients
Advanced Therapy For Hand Injuries Hand therapy can be a powerful agent for pain management and increasing functionality for individuals who struggle with weakness and loss of function after an injury, stroke or other traumatic health event as well as injuries to the arm, hand, fingers and wrist. Hand therapy isn’t always about instant relief; it’s about developing activity plans to increase motion, dexterity and strength. These exercises, combined with manual therapy and therapeutic modalities for tissue and joint conditioning, teach patients how to minimize stiffness, pain and manage their conditions to achieve long-term results.
point out that it was all part of God’s plan for her life – a plan that was bigger than what she could have dreamed for herself.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty with physical injuries. People are really surprised and comforted when they know their therapist has also been through the frustration and anxiety of what they are experiencing. But they hear my story and see what I can do – that helps them understand that things will be ok,” says Laura. “At the end of most sessions, patients are smiling and laughing and feeling more positive than when they came in the door.” Although she wouldn’t want anyone to go through what she did at such a young age, Laura is quick to
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I’m thankful that I have a career, passion and opportunity to encourage people like me who’ve been through so much and help them get back to living a full and active life.
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through post-operative rehabilitation and nonoperative and conservative treatments to reduce pain and restore mobility. In addition to manual therapy, Laura also makes splints from molded plastics that help people perform routine tasks more easily.
“God led me into this career. It was a devastating thing that happened to an 18-year-old girl, but he brought something good out of it. I’m 100 percent sure that I’m here for a purpose and that he worked out these details,” says Laura. “I’m thankful that I have a career, passion and opportunity to encourage people like me who’ve been through so much and help them get back to living a full and active life.”
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A TRIP
They’ll Never Forget
W
hen Janie Kehler was planning a cruise to Cozumel and Cancun with her son, daughter and son-in-law, she hoped it would be a trip of a lifetime. Little did she know that she’d always remember this trip for 3 years // PACU Recovery very different reasons. Infirmary Instead of happy F U N FAC T memories of sand and Janie went to college on a swimming surf, Janie is thanking scholarship that paid for her initial undergraduate degree at UCA. She’s also a God for his provision painter who has sold several acrylic pieces. over her son’s life.
Janie KEHLER
Within the first 24 hours of boarding the ship, her son, Chase, a healthy and strong 22-year-old college student, became sick with stomach cramps. Even though Chase wasn’t feeling well, they set out on a scuba diving expedition. He became increasingly ill, and they eventually took him to the ship’s doctor for an evaluation. “Chase was running a very high fever, so they did bloodwork and imaging and determined he had acute appendicitis and an abscess. The doctor told us he needed immediate surgery and would make arrangements to get us off the boat,” remembers Janie. “I packed a quick bag with 9 | Fall 2019 | OneSpirit Magazine
our toiletries and one change of clothes for each of us, without realizing what an ordeal this situation would become.” Janie and Chase were medevacked by a Mexican Coast Guard cutter, transferred to a water ambulance and then to another ambulance that took them to a hospital in Cancun. That’s where things took a decisive turn for the worse. The hospital was clean and modern, which initially calmed Janie’s fears for her son. The surgeon who evaluated Chase confirmed surgery was needed, and that they would begin within the hour. Janie met with a financial clerk who initially said they
would need to make a $6,000 deposit, but when surgery was indicated, the cost jumped to $25,000. “I wasn’t thinking about money at all, just Chase’s life, so of course I was willing to pay whatever it cost. But it was the middle of the night, and I was desperately trying to get in touch with my insurance company while using Google Translate to communicate with hospital staff,” says Janie. “I provided my only credit card for what I thought was a down payment, but they ran the card for the full $25,0000, and the card was declined and shut off by my credit card company. Now we had no way to make the payment.”
“Even though they knew I could get the money by noon, they told us they were transferring Chase to the public hospital and that we had to leave. I’d heard horror stories about public hospitals in Mexico, but we didn’t have a choice – they began physically removing us from the hospital,” says Janie. “When we arrived at the next hospital, they set Chase in a wheelchair on the loading dock and left us there. It was so terrifying.” After an hour of waiting, no one had come to help Chase, and they both feared for his life. There were heavily armed guards patrolling as well
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Instead of moving forward with surgery, the hospital decided to delay until the next morning to see if Janie could get the money. All the while, Chase was becoming increasingly sick and was in terrible pain. The hospital stopped his IV pain medication and antibiotics and stopped talking to them. Through a series of miscommunications and panicked calls with insurance and credit card companies, Janie was having no luck getting the money they needed.
We are so blessed to live in a country where we can access excellent healthcare whenever we need it.
as visibly wounded people screaming and begging to be let in to the hospital. It was in this moment that Janie felt like God opened the door and showed her the way with an angel he put in their path. She had asked a paramedic on the dock about how to see the doctor, and he quickly told her that they needed to go to a private hospital. After praying about the decision with Chase, Janie agreed to let this man take them to another hospital in a different area of town. “We were at a point of desperation and had to trust that this man was sent from God to help us. When we arrived, we quickly worked through the financial negotiations and coordinated benefits with our insurance carrier,” says Janie. “Chase had his appendix removed with no complications, and we left the hospital in 24 hours. Because he wasn’t cleared to fly for five days, we stayed in a hotel across the street while he recovered.” Today, Chase is back to school studying business marketing
Submitted Photo
and entrepreneurship and runs a small business buying and selling vehicles. Through this harrowing near-death experience for her son, Janie was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from friends, coworkers, physicians and others who were doing all they could to help from miles away. It was also sobering to realize what might have happened to Chase if he didn’t get the surgery in time.
“We are so blessed to live in a country where we can access excellent healthcare whenever we need it, and to have access to the resources to pay for his surgery in a private hospital. I know that Chase could have easily died at the public hospital, and I don’t take that for granted. He and I both continue to pray for the people we encountered along this journey that don’t have these choices,” says Janie. “And I’ll never forget the man who helped us. We don’t even know his name, but without him, things could have turned out very differently.”
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2 St. Vincent Circle Little Rock, AR 72205
O N E S P I R I T M A G A Z I N E CO N T R I B U T O R S E D I T O R Sarah Lehr W R I T E R Lauren Lawson D E S I G N E R Diana Denning P H O T O G R A P H E R Karen Segrave CO P Y E D I T O R S Dan Troillett, Bonnie Ward
Enjoy this issue of the OneSpirit Magazine, created by coworkers for coworkers. Each one of us has a story to tell, and we are working to make those compelling stories known. Share your feedback or ideas by visiting onespiritblog.com, and click “Share Ideas and Photos” or email webmaster@stvincenthealth.com.
CHI St. Vincent Employee Giving Campaign ’19 Philanthropy is a love of humanity philanthropy (n.) c. 1600, from Greek philanthropia “kindliness, humanity, benevolence, love to mankind”
GIVING IS EASY You can make a direct cash donation, set up a payroll deduction or donate hours in your PTO bank.
DONATE TODAY! Contact the CHI St. Vincent Foundation at 501.552.2380 or foundation@stvincenthealth.com
Funds raised through philanthropy help to make our care sites special. Coworker Scholarship support coworkers educational development Danny’s Gift support family members of those receiving neuro critical care Hot Springs Senior Center support upgrades and programs for our senior community Sharing serve our coworker family and our community’s underserved in time of need