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2007–2008 Annual Fund to Support the Backus Breast Health Patient Navigation Program

 

It was four years ago when Rose Gerber felt a lump in her breast in the shower. She was 39 years old, had been married 14 years, and had a daughter aged 6 and a son aged 8.

Mrs. Gerber was very private about her diagnosis. Initially there was a large tumor and the cancer was already in her lymph system. Her prognosis was not good.

“On the surface it looked like I was leading a normal life,” Mrs. Gerber said, “but my heart was saddened and I was so scared I wasn’t going to see my daughter finish kindergarten or my son finish third grade, and leave my husband widowed.”

Women with abnormal mammograms are often overwhelmed with uncertainty and concern. They must make far-ranging and complex decisions regarding their care and insurance coverage.

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“I was terribly overwhelmed and frightened, heightened by the added responsibility of seeking information, care and treatment—on top of the emotional impact,” Mrs. Gerber said. “I didn’t know what to do.”

In the coming year, Backus is planning to launch a patient navigation service for people like Mrs. Gerber. This program will provide a comprehensive resource for women who experience abnormal mammograms—an important screening tool in the detection and treatment of breast cancer. 

The Backus Breast Health Patient Navigation Program will help guide patients through the healthcare system, minimizing barriers and providing timely access to quality care and available resources.

“It will be incredible—priceless—to have a program like this in place within the hospital to guide patients through the course of information, resources, treatment and support,” Mrs. Gerber said.

Gifts to the Backus Foundation’s Annual Fund help sustain vital programs like the Backus Breast Health Patient Navigation Program. We ask you to join us in making a gift to the 2007–2008 Annual Fund in support of this new program and others essential to your good health.

Every gift makes a difference—and every gift will help patients access quality healthcare.

Mrs. Gerber credits her life to the aggressive treatment and targeted new therapy she received in a clinical trial through Backus and Eastern Connecticut Hematology and Oncology. Mrs. Gerber is now a strong advocate working with the Uncas Health District to ensure that care is available for the uninsured in southeastern Connecticut and raise awareness of the dangers of the disease.

“This is my life’s mission,” she said. “I do not want anyone to forget how serious this disease is. My fear is that breast cancer is so common, that people don’t realize how dangerous it can be.”

To make a gift today, please use the enclosed envelope, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.backushospital.org" www.backushospital.org or contact Lee McLallen, associate director of annual giving, at (860) 823-6536.