Patient Perspective: Kimberly
Before my diagnosis in late November of 2018, I thought of myself as someone who was well informed about breast cancer. Having a sister who was diagnosed with DCIS at a young age guided me (someone who is already proactive with my health) to stay informed. Also, at 60 years old I’ve lost count of the number of friends who have taken this journey and shared their experience with me. And “journey” it certainly is, down a long, often unfamiliar road with many stops along the way that aren’t really where we want to be. However, there has been place on this journey that I actually look forward to – TurningPoint. Aptly named, TurningPoint is like a compass, providing me both guidance and care that shifts me in the right direction. My therapists help fill in the gaps of information that pop up between multiple doctors and treatments. The therapeutic procedures have brought me back to a range of motion within normal and encouraged me to attain my previous fitness level. What’s also remarkable to me is how on each visit they both accomplish the clinical rehabilitation objectives and engage me in happy conversation about my world. They let me ramble about my two grown sons, my supportive husband and my work in marketing veterinary specialty and emergency hospitals. Is it any wonder that I walk out of TurningPoint feeling good in body, mind and heart?
Patient Perspective: Mary
You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” (Psalm 18:28 NIV) “. . . enjoy the gift of an ordinary day.” I read those words wistfully each time I waited in the lobby at TurningPoint. Would I ever feel normal again? On July 27, 2018 I had a bilateral mastectomy and started reconstruction two months later. To be strong and flexible again seemed like an impossible dream. But now in April I’m doing an aerobics class three times a week! How thankful I am for TurningPoint’s role in my restoration. Last fall every time I signed in I was greeted with encouraging smiles. As I sat in the lobby awaiting my appointment, I felt myself slowly relax as soft music played overhead. I read passages of scripture. Glancing up from my reading, I began to notice a lamp shaped like a plant curving gracefully upward toward the light. Nature imagery continued in the pictures on the wall — a butterfly alighting on a blossom; a dragonfly hovering over a plant. They reminded me of my Creator who soothed me as I waited my turn. Then I would hear my name. The therapist would smile at me, welcoming me warmly for another session. At first I resented the identity of “breast cancer patient;” I had already been down that rocky road in 2012. I am athletic and didn’t like to be weak and dependent. My therapist could sense this malaise and yet treated me kindly. As we got better acquainted I felt comfortable confiding some of my struggles. She listened empathetically and asked a few helpful questions. What a relief to be understood! My negative feelings were acknowledged and validated. At every visit my therapist massaged my neck and shoulder area as well as the underarm cording, and tight muscles began to ease. Since my range of motion was measured each time, I felt motivated to exercise diligently at home using their regimen. Little by little I could see changes – progress! During that time I also walked a lot outside, as well as doing water aerobics for two months. In January came the implant surgery. The preceding months had felt like climbing steep stairs, straining to reach the top, but now I was forced to go backwards, partway down the steps. I felt so frustrated at the delay and feeling limited once more. But when I could resume the TurningPoint exercises my recovery picked up speed, much faster than before. Now my husband and I are so pleased with the results of the reconstruction, and I am energetic and flexible. As I said a grateful goodbye to my plastic surgeon and TurningPoint, I knew that my God had indeed provided TurningPoint to help me and had turned my darkness into light. He also blessed me with a wonderful, supportive husband and some faithful friends and counselors.
I Wish I Had Known: A Message from Dana Barrett
Dear TurningPoint Community – Some of you may know me as the emcee of The Pink Affair, and maybe you’ve heard me say a word or two about my own breast cancer battle at the mic on those inspiring and important evenings. But while it is an honor to be a part of the TurningPoint community now, when I went through cancer, I did it largely by myself. I was diagnosed at age 45 after a routine mammogram, and at that point in my life I was a single empty-nester with no family in Atlanta. My best friend and my boyfriend at the time were there for me, and helped shuttle me to and from my surgery, and my family was certainly emotionally supportive from afar, but in many ways I felt alone when it came to understanding my disease and making decisions about treatment. My doctors were fantastic, and I felt like I was in good hands, but I’m sure there were questions that went unasked and options for healing and support that I missed altogether. I say I’m sure about that because TurningPoint existed when I was going through cancer and I didn’t know about it. Perhaps there was a brochure for TurningPoint amongst all the other papers I brought home, perhaps not, but either way, I missed out on a healing place and a community of support. Years later, a TurningPoint board member saw me emceeing a non-profit event and asked if I would be open to emceeing The Pink Affair. As a breast cancer survivor, I was immediately interested, but didn’t want to get onstage without knowing more. Shortly after our initial conversation I was introduced to TP founder Jill Binkley and went to see the facility and meet some of the staff. Hearing Jill’s story, I knew the place would be special. I wasn’t disappointed. From the moment I walked in, I could feel that I was in a place of understanding. Maybe that sounds corny, but from the way the place is decorated to the people at the front desk, to the PTs, counselors and therapists, everyone gets it. It’s like you’re walking into a place where you don’t have to explain yourself. As Jill toured me around, I asked her some questions about my own experience and about my on-going fears, and she understood and had answers. And then I was lucky enough to experience a TurningPoint massage. I think at that point I was only about 3 years past my surgery, so I still had some tenderness, and some range of motion issues with my right arm. My massage therapist spent time talking to me about all of that before we even got started, and then made sure to customize my position on the table and the massage itself to my body and my trouble spots. That’s when I truly knew what I had missed out on. Her compassion, intuition, and of course skill made me almost want to cry, because I was finally in a place that got it. It was not a place full of pity or empty words of encouragement… it was real. Klonopin (Clonazepam) deserves attention because it is effective in treating such a nuisance as neurosis/panic attacks/panic (anxiety) disorder. It should be prescribed, of course, by a competent doctor, because self-treatment is unacceptable unambiguously. I consider myself competent to tell only about what I got convinced in personally by my own experience at https://holisticdental.org/klonopin-for-anxiety/, namely: if the dose chosen by the doctor is correct and accurate and if it is combined with compatible drugs, then this is the most effective remedy. It will produce the desired result! Since then I have done what I could to get the word out. I’ve emceed The Pink Affair for the last 3 years and had Jill, Rebecca and several others from the organization on my radio show multiple times. I’ve also donated a portion of the proceeds from my quarterly women’s networking events to TurningPoint and mentioned the organization to virtual strangers who probably thought I was getting too personal. Of course, we all hope for the day when breast cancer is no more. But until then it is my sincere wish that everyone who goes through breast cancer has access to TurningPoint. That means awareness here in Atlanta, and it means funding so that TurningPoint can grow in our city and beyond. So please join me this month and spread the word! Let’s make sure TurningPoint is known and grown! Much love and appreciation, Dana BarrettTurningPoint Spokesperson& Host of The Dana Barret Show on Talk Radio 640 WGST
Patient Perspective: Cari
My Breast Cancer Diagnosis hit hard and fast. I had to make a lot of decisions and make them quick. I was overwhelmed and I know my family felt the same way. I did as much research as I could, exploring every option possible on what treatment plans were best for me. Before my diagnosis, I was teaching yoga classes, going to acting class and auditions, along with waiting tables at night. I ended up having a double mastectomy, froze my eggs, and then went through chemotherapy. I lost the range of motion in my arms after surgery, and chemo really drained my energy. Also, I had no idea how expensive a cancer diagnosis would be. It really has drained me financially. I am so thankful I found TurningPoint, which has been a healing oasis for me. They helped me get my range of motion back faster than I would have on my own and helped me financially. TurningPoint will always have a special place in my heart.
