LIFE

By Emily Williams

Later this fall, Amy Passey will celebrate her 11th year as a breast cancer survivor, counting back from the day she received her diagnosis in 2009.

“I always tell the people I mentor that you become a survivor the day you are diagnosed,” Passey said. “Because if you don’t fall over of a heart attack the day you are diagnosed, you’re a survivor.”

The more than 10 years since have changed her life, she believes, for the better.

“It’s an incredible journey … I remember saying to my husband when I first finished treatment, ‘You happened to me,’” Passey said. “And he went, ‘I’m not there yet.’” Breast cancer is not only a bullet point in her life but a constant theme that has driven her past and continues to shape her vision for the future. “My mother died at 41 of breast cancer,” Passey said. “She was diagnosed at 33. I was 14 and am Photo courtesy Amy Passey one of four daughters.”

Passey’s youngest sister was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2009, shortly before her own diagnosis, and passed away several years later.

Despite the bad, Passey has continued to see the good that has come out of her relationship with breast cancer. It’s not something she has in common with others, she said, even her sister.

“Some people see breast cancer as a fight, and some people view it as a journey,” she said. “I chose to view it as a journey and I still feel like it’s a journey.

“It doesn’t end when you finish treatment. There are still side effects, there’s still medicine I have to take, but, as I say all the time, they are very mild because I’m here. My baby sister wasn’t that lucky.”

When Passey’s sister found out she had breast cancer, all four siblings began more seriously monitoring their own risk.

“We asked a genetic counselor what we needed to do to be proactive and she said you need to alter

Cheerleaders Create Posters to Cheer on O’Neal Cancer Center Patients ....PAGE 17 Amy Passey

nate a mammogram with an ultrasound every six months,” Passey said. “I just routinely scheduled it and they caught mine.”

Before her cancer journey, Passey was a fulltime teacher with a vision for her future. When she quit working, she would devote her time to her passions – Camp Winnataska and her church, to name just two.

“Of course, now my priorities have changed because breast cancer is one of the main things I want to devote my time to,” she said.

For about the past eight years, Passey has been involved in some way with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama working to further research efforts.

She has worked as a volunteer, served on the board of directors and, most recently, worked parttime for the organization as an office assistant.

Unofficially, she mentors other women on their cancer journey.

It’s often someone who is a neighbor of a friend or another acquaintance who later becomes a great friend.

“What I always tell them is that somebody did this for me,” Passey said. “Somebody did this for my mom way back in the day so that I could have a know what, this might be the best thing that ever

Beyond Physical Activity

New Additions Will Help Lakeshore Surpass Its Goals, CEO Says normal life while somebody else was sitting with my mom when she was going through chemo. So, I feel like I am paying back and paying forward.”

Over the years, she has found that cancer truly knows no bounds, finding people from all walks of life present whether in a support group or at a fundraising event.

“There are so many people who want to find a cure, not because it’s going to help someone they know right now who has breast cancer, but it’s going to help somebody down the road,” Passey said. And it is the future that drives her continued support for cancer research.

Passey celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness month in a similar fashion each year. She promotes awareness as far as she can reach, sharing Breast Cancer Research Foundation events and sending out text messages to her closest friends to remind them to make sure they get their annual mammograms.

Promoting breast cancer screenings such as mammograms and self-checks is huge for Passey.

“It’s really huge to me because my baby sister felt the lump, went to the doctor … and he told her because she had just finished nursing three babies back-to-back, that it was probably nothing.”

When her sister was finally diagnosed, the lump was at 8 centimeters and the diagnosis, in turn, was far more severe than it might have been earlier.

“I think women so often let their health slide, especially when they have young kids,” she said. “My mom did the same thing. She felt the lump in the spring and didn’t go to the doctor until almost a year later. By then it had spread, and she lived for eight years.”

“Out of four sisters, every one of us had girls,” Passey said. “So, there are nine nieces.”

Many of Passey’s nieces already have been connected with a high-risk clinic to monitor their own health. Her eldest daughter just turned 25 and is in the process of getting into the high-risk clinic at UAB.

“One in eight women are usually diagnosed with breast cancer, so I’m determined that we will have a cure,” Passey said.

By Emily Williams

Grandview Cancer Center’s Dr. William H. Ennis doesn’t work in public health, so pandemic shutdowns were as much a surprise to him as they were for much of the public.

As a radiation oncologist, many of the patients who Ennis works with are at a higher risk of having a more serious case of COVID-19 should they contract the virus.

But the hospital hasn’t closed its doors during the pandemic, and not a single radiation oncology patient missed a treatment because of hospital actions, he said, despite hospital workers spending the first months of the pandemic battling with a lack of testing and a nationwide PPE shortage, as well as general fear.

“Certainly, with the shutdown, initially we had folks who weren’t coming for regular screenings,” he said. “It’s something that we wouldn’t recommend missing a whole year of.”

The hospital has since implemented a variety of safety measures to ensure the safety – and peace of mind – of patients and staff.

“We know that radiation can impact the immune system,” he said. “It’s not as overwhelming as chemotherapy is, but a lot of our patients are on chemotherapy as well as radiation or have just finished chemotherapy.”

In addition, many people suffering

By Solomon Cr

nsha Jr.

Jeff Underwood remembers when staffers at Lakeshore Foundation went to the board and asked for more space.

Underwood remembers that request, which came about 22 years ago, being met with questions from board members about what would be accomplished with that space.

“I remember the presentation I made, and we had a lot of conversation,” said Underwood, the Lakeshore CEO. “If we get this building, we’ll do this many more classes, we’ll serve this many more people. We’re going to do everything we can to become the (Olympic/Paralympic) training site, we’re going to start a research program.”

That request yielded the Lakeshore Foundation Fieldhouse, which has given prospective Olympians and Paralympians a place to train. It’s also provided a place where disabled indiSee LAKESHORE, page 16

From page 12 from cancer tend to be older and have other risk factors that make the coronavirus more dangerous to them, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and poor lung function, as well as being immunosuppressed from radiation or chemotherapy, Ennis said.

“So, we try to be as careful as we can,” he said.

When Labor Day approached and patients asked about whether they could see relatives or where they could go, Ennis said he stuck to national guidelines. “I strongly encourage staying as socially distant as possible, wearing masks, limiting interactions with other people,” he said. “You know, as things are reopening around them, Photo courtesy Grandview Medical (cancer patients) are really the ones that need to be careful.”

While people at a lower risk of death from coronavirus may feel comfortable being out and about as normal, Ennis recommends they make sure not to congregate in groups or interact with others who could potentially expose them to the virus.

Safety is doubly important this fall, as flu season arrives, he said.

“We’re obviously going to recommend flu vaccinations for everybody and everybody who is working here,” he said, though he does believe new COVID-19 safety measures may lessen the blow from the flu this year.

Dr. William H. Ennis

“I do think that wearing the masks, washing the hands and the social distancing is going to probably help curb this flu season a little bit,” he said. “So, this flu season may be a little bit milder than typical years.”

Now that the hospital has safer measures in place, PPE is in good supply and testing is quicker and more abundant, Ennis and his fellow physicians are hoping to see more patients return.

“We’re recommending that folks get back out and do their regular cancer screenings, whether that be colonoscopies, mammograms or … for

Radiation oncology Director Michael Chad Montgomery said hospital staff throughout the pandemic have worked to ensure the safety of patients.

“Initially we, like many other places, started limiting the number of actual people who were entering our building, of course,” Montgomery said. “What we are doing right now, which we have been doing since the beginning, is making sure that everyone in the building is wearing masks – wearing PPE – while they are here.”

Employees undergo temperature checks when they enter as well as being monitored for potential symptoms.

“Knowing that there are asymptomatic cases out there, we wanted to try to curb any asymptomatic spread if we can among patients,” Ennis said.

The hospital’s cleaning schedule has been ramped up, and hand-sanitizing stations are abundant throughout the facility.

In addition, all waiting areas or spots where multiple people congregate – be it a lobby or conference room – are arranged to promote social distancing.

By implementing as many safety measures as possible to lessen the discomforting threat of contracting COVID-19, Montgomery said he hopes to give patients a bit more peace of mind.

Keith Granger is retiring from his role Board. as president of the Community Health He has served on the board and Systems Professional Services Corp.’s executive committee of Alabama’s Region 1 at the end of the year. He will Medicare-contracted Quality be succeeded by Drew Mason, CEO of Improvement Organization and played Grandview Medical Center, a key role in development leaving a vacancy in that and passage of Alabama’s spot. Infection Reporting Law for

Mason takes over the transparency. He serves on Region 1 presidency on Jan. the board of governors for 1, but he will continue as CEO the Federation of American until a new one is selected, Hospitals and on Blue Cross according to a statement from Blue Shield of Alabama’s Grandview. The search for a board. new CEO already has begun. Mason was promoted

Granger will continue to CEO of Grandview in with the corporation as an Keith Granger 2017, after having been the executive adviser to help hospital’s chief operating advance quality, patient experience, officer since 2014. He became CEO leadership development and special soon after Grandview opened, and in projects in select markets, according to that position he helped recruit a strong the statement. leadership team and nearly 500 new

Granger became president of Region physicians. 1 in 2017, working with hospitals in Under his leadership, Grandview has Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and grown the employed physician network Georgia. He was CEO of Grandview to 130-plus providers in more than 20 when it opened in 2015 and oversaw locations. The hospital also soon plans the movement of the hospital from its to break ground on a new medical old east Birmingham location, when it office building and $14 million women’s was called Trinity Medical Center, to its project. current location on U.S. 280. Mason has been a part of the CHS

Granger has served on boards at the organization since 2006 and in 2017 local, state and national level, earned was appointed by the governor to the the highest honor for hospital leadership Statewide Health Coordinating Council. from the Alabama Hospital Association’s He is president of the Alabama Hospital board of trustees and is Alabama’s Association, Birmingham Regional delegate to that group’s Regional Policy Council.

At Grandview Cancer Center, we customize each care plan per patient to treat with advanced technology and evidence-based medicine. The radiation oncology team is lead by Jennifer De Los Santos, M.D., Cancer Center Medical Director, and William H. Ennis, M.D. Our dedicated care team understands the complexities and will be with you on this journey to provide high quality care.

Radiation Oncologist Cancer Center Director

Radiation Oncologist

Independent Members of the Medical Staff at Grandview Medical Center. 3670 Grandview Parkway Birmingham 205-971-1800

If your loved one had a stroke, brain injury or other life-changing illness or injury, where you choose to complete rehabilitation makes a difference. The right track is the one that best fits a patient’s unique needs and gives them the greatest chance at a successful return to independence.

At Encompass Health Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital, we know that understanding the care settings available can be overwhelming. The below tips can help you learn more about rehabilitation and find the provider that best meets the needs of your loved one.

Do your research: Many facilities offer rehabilitation services but the quality, experience and comprehensive nature of these services can vary significantly. At Encompass Health Lakeshore, rehabilitation is what we do and what makes a difference.

Don’t assume all therapy is the same: At Encompass Health Lakeshore, patients are cared for by an interdisciplinary team that is experienced in providing rehabilitation for many conditions. We know that the small activities that make up everyday life can be some of the most important, and our functional approach to therapy aims to help patients feel more confident in their return to the community.

Know the guidelines: According to the recent adult stroke rehabilitation guidelines released by the American Heart Association*, whenever possible, stroke patients should be treated at an inpatient rehabilitation facility rather than a skilled nursing facility.

When it comes to finding the best rehabilitation services, be sure you understand the differences in rehabilitation options. For more information, contact Encompass Health Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital.

*Source: American Heart Association, Inc.

3800 Ridgeway Drive Birmingham, AL 35209 205.868.2000

©2020:Encompass Health Corporation:1694524

We offer superior care and results for patients when compared to nursing homes. Research* tells the story. Connect with a higher level of care at Encompass Health Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital.

*Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of research identifiable 20% sample of Medicare beneficiaries, 2005-2009

The Joint Commission DiseaseSpecific Care Certification in Stroke Rehabilitation

Alison Hayes, CRNP, recently graduated from UAB’s nurse practitioner program, with a focus on adult and geriatric primary medical dermatology, and has been on staff at Skin Wellness Dermatology for two years.

Hayes will focus on medical dermatology and see patients from adolescents to geriatrics. “With my master’s of nursing, I will be able to assess, diagnose and treat patients for issues ranging from hair and nail diseases to acne, skin checks, cancer screening, eczema and psoriasis,” said Hayes.

Hayes said she would focus on what brought the patient in, discuss what they are dealing with and handle it in a comprehensive manner. She wants to make sure to educate them on what they can do to help themselves. “As a provider, the best thing I can do is offer education through treatment. I can give patients medications, but if I don’t educate them on why it’s important to take it and the goal of it, we’re going to have a miscommunication and they won’t feel empowered to take part in their treatment.

“I will do biopsies of lesions that are concerning or are irritating that may be skin cancer. If something on the body appears to be irritated, like a skin tag, I can remove it so it’s no longer an issue. I also do liquid nitrogen treatment and cryotherapy on precancerous lesions.

“I love for patients to come back and have success. I am constantly rooting for my patients to take their regimen and come back with a success story. I’m in their corner and feel better when they don’t have as many acne pimples in a month or are regaining hair. I want to make them feel better, be more confident and be successful in their treatment.”

Patients can request an appointment online or via phone and can also request a specific provider or first available. Hayes will go back and forth between the two Skin Wellness Dermatology locations in Chelsea and Homewood.

Skin Wellness Dermatology, 205-871-7332 “As a provider, the best thing I can do is offer education through treatment. I can give patients medications, but if I don’t educate them on why it’s important to take it and the goal of it, we’re going to have a miscommunication and they won’t feel empowered to take part in their treatment.”

ALISON HAYES, CRNP

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The recent additions include a 21,000-squarefoot addition to the multipurpose facility that is the centerpiece of the Lakeshore campus.

The culinary

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LAKESHORE tion to take place remotely. Upgrades to the Wallace Gym bring a bit of a Back to the Future feel. From page 12 “The original Lakeshore Foundation facility viduals throughout Alabama have been able to was there,” Underwood said. “It has now been improve their quality of life. renovated and converted totally into a UAB/

“I think we’ve long met and surpassed what Lakeshore research facility.” we said we would do if we had more building,” In 2009, the Lakeshore Foundation collaboUnderwood said. “It’s exciting over the years rated with UAB in a first-of-its-kind partnership that we’ve grown to the point where we needed between a major academic research university some additional space, which we’ve just now and a nonprofit serving individuals with physibrought online.” cal disabilities. Nick Cotumaccio, vice president of operaNewest Addition Division, said that partnership was housed

Lakeshore Foundation and Hoar inside the Lakeshore fieldhouse until work was Construction last week announced the compledone to improve the old Wallace Gym. tion of the latest development project on the Underwood said research is a key motivation in Lakeshore campus, a $17.5 million expansion that space. of the Master Campus in Homewood. “That collaboration has been so successful

Hoar served as general contractor on several in getting external NIH and CDC and other recent projects across the campus. Working with grants that they ran out of space pretty quickly,” Lakeshore Foundation and KPS, Hoar worked the Lakeshore CEO said. “A big part of the to provide state-of-the-art facilities and equipspace in the new addition is related to the ment that comply with the Americans with research staff.” Disabilities Act for both athletes and local That includes a dance studio that’s mostly users. used in research projects related to dance.

Immediately apparent during a visit to the “A lot of our nutrition work relates to diet campus in Homewood are enhancements to the and obesity, which are big issues in this state,” outdoor space in front of and beyond the fieldhe said. “We’re not totally driven by but prehouse. dominantly driven by what was going on in

The intent was to create a relaxing and medresearch.” itative atmosphere surrounding the campus, Wallace Gym renovations provided more providing gathering spaces. Several new outthan 20,000 square feet of research space, door spaces were created, including Campus allowing UAB and Lakeshore to lead the world Commons, the Contemplative Garden and the in research programs in rehabilitative science.

The expansion includes a multimedia lab, teleconsultation suites, innovation lab, video production lab, culinary/ nutrition lab, clinical exercise lab, mindfulness lab, Journal photo by Solomon Crenshaw Jr. lobby, open office “It can’t just be the fitness and aquatics and sport, which we’ve done very space, café and well. We had to include in our range of services nutrition and mindfulness,” board room. Jeff Underwood, said, above in Lakeshore’s new culinary/nutrition lab.

tions for Hoar Construction’s Healthcare lab includes a demonstration kitchen with The 8,900-square-foot Magnolia Hall, which adjustable-height stovetops and state-of-the art drew its name years ago from a pair of magnotechnology tools for nutritional and culinary lia trees planted nearby, also has been repureducation. The multimedia lab and teleconsultaposed. tion suites feature flat-screen monitors and “It’s now leased to Children’s of Alabama advanced audio-visual technology for staff to for outpatient clinics,” the Lakeshore CEO said. interact with athletes and users remotely. “That’s just absolutely fabulous for us to have

Underwood referenced a strategic plan that Children’s on our campus because those chilwas developed in about 2010 to 2012. From dren and their parents are coming out to this that came the realization that Lakeshore had to campus for various types of outpatient treatgo beyond physical activity. ment –mostly related to physical medicine,

“It can’t just be the fitness and aquatics and rehab pediatrics, orthopedics – and in that prosport, which we’ve done very well,” he said. cess, they get in the habit of coming out here.” “We had to include in our range of services Children’s of Alabama hospital uses that nutrition and mindfulness. space to provide outpatient physical therapy,

“We also had a feeling at the time that the occupational therapy, speech and hearing rehause of technology to deliver our program was bilitation services for children and young adults. going to become even more important,” “We all know that buildings by themselves Underwood continued. “I tell you, the last six don’t really serve people,” Underwood said. “It months has really underscored that tremendoustakes the staff and the commitment of everyly.” body involved to really get the work done. But

The addition of digital technology has the building has really served our purposes very allowed athletic training and life skills instrucwell.”

Cheerleaders Create Posters By Emily Williams Though they are rival teams, middle school cheerleaders for Louis Pizitz Middle School and Mountain Brook Junior High have teamed up to cheer for the same cause. to Cheer on O’Neal Cancer Center Patients Photos courtesy Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills cheerleaders

The girls spent the past couple of weeks decorating signs that will soon be hung throughout the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center to cheer on patients as they receive treatments.

The 64 posters will be hung in different units, including hematology oncology, radiation, infusion and the breast health clinic.

Throughout the pandemic, the Patient and Family Services Committee of the center’s advisory board has been looking for creative ways to support cancer patients and health care workers.

“We typically go into the hospital monthly and visit them, just to check in and try to be a friendly face,” said committee Chairwoman Betts Johnson, but that hasn’t been an option because of potential coronavirus exposure.

Johnson’s daughter, Callie, an eighth grade cheerleader at Louis Pizitz Middle School in Vestavia Hills, inspired an idea to not only lift up patients and workers but also kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“I had been trying to come up with ways that the girls can give back,” Johnson said. “I feel like they have this gift where they cheer on their respective teams, but at the same time they have the ability to cheer on more than just those teams.”

On Oct. 1, the LPMS football team will be taking on long-standing rival Mountain Brook Junior High. Before the game, both cheerleading squads will debut their signs as a way to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“My grandmother is a breast cancer survivor and my mom has visited cancer patients at UAB for years,” said Callie Johnson. “It feels good to bring joy for those with cancer and their caretakers in a small way such as posters. It’s also been meaningful to work with other cheerleaders to do something for others.”

Top, Mountian Brook Junior High cheerleaders. Above, Louis Pizitz Middle School cheerleaders. The girls spent the past couple of weeks decorating signs that will soon be hung throughout the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center. On Oct. 1, the LPMS football team will be taking on long-standing rival Mountain Brook Junior High. Before the game, both cheerleading squads will debut their signs as a way to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

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