My wife is going to be very proud of me.
Now that we are both getting a bit older (notice how carefully I said that), she has “encouraged” me each year to get a flu shot. Sometimes I have, but more often than not, I haven’t.
On Tuesday, I attended the Slidell Memorial Hospital Women’s Health Alliance annual Fall Luncheon at Northshore Harbor Center and was surprised to be summoned over to one of the health care information tables, where I was given a flu shot.
What a good boy I am!
Seriously, the annual Women’s Health Alliance luncheon is a super event that is packed out every year, and nothing was different in 2014.
Over 400 attendees, almost all women, came to the special event where there was a tremendous amount of health care information, followed by a nice lunch, more information about breast cancer prevention and treatment, and then a fashion show with breast cancer survivors serving as the models.
And I got a flu shot!
But back to the stories you would rather hear about…..
Each year when I covered the luncheon I noticed there is a different feel to this event, which is still some kind of fundraiser for the work done by the Women’s Health Alliance. But unlike so many other benefit events I attend each year, this one has a different atmosphere—more like a bunch of women who want to have lunch together, and truly care about each other.
I loved the change this year when it was time for some additional information on stage for the women. In some past years they have had great women speakers, most who tied in health care for women to their speech. But this year the organizers decided to have an informal panel discussion on stage about breast cancer, headed by Dr. Joan Archer, who recently discovered she had breast cancer, got treatment, and is doing well.
She was also joined on stage by SMH Oncologist Dr. Carrie Marquette, SMH Mammographer Diane Audibert, SMH Regional Cancer Center Medical Director Dr. Matt McElveen, SMH Oncology Director Lori Fontenot, and eight-year breast cancer survivor Laurie Jugan.
Archer told the story about very recently going on a cruise, only to wake up in her cabin one morning and notice a lump on her breast.
“I knew it was something that wasn’t supposed to be there,” she said.
Archer told the story that had to be readily identified by many in the audience—dozens who have had breast cancer—as she said she finished the six-day cruise in what was probably the most terrified six days of her life, worrying about the certainty of the breast cancer she was certain she had.
“By the time I got off the boat I had already picked out my coffin,” said Archer.
She complimented Slidell Memorial’s staff as being “wonderful” in helping take charge of the situation, calming her fears, and proceeding to help get treatment for the cancer.
Dr. McElveen, along with others on the panel, focused on one point over-and-over. “Nothing beats a successful outcome from breast cancer like finding it early,” he said.
The message on Tuesday was clear—there is a lot of help in our community when it comes to health care—breast cancer or other issues. We should all feel very fortunate to have so many dedicated, compassionate people working at our local hospitals and health care providers in Slidell.
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Speaking of health care, please join me in saying a prayer for a great outcome for East St. Tammany Chamber CEO Dawn Sharpe-Brackett, who is out-of-state at this time having heart surgery.
Dawn allowed me to tell her story in the newspaper a year ago about a lifelong heart problem that few people ever knew anything about as she worked in our midst for the Chamber and helping our business community. But in the past two years her condition had become more serious, with bouts of passing out, weakness and shortness of breath.
She had previous treatments, but nothing fixed the problem and now we are praying for a great result from this surgery. Get well Dawn!
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Please locate any United States veterans you know and take them to the Slidell Municipal Auditorium on Sunday, Nov. 2 from 1 to 4 p.m., and join in a great Slidell event that is in its second year—our Veterans Appreciation Reception.
Started a year ago by a good friend in Slidell, Chuck Sabadie, this is an open invitation for a free lunch, free dancing, and free program of inspiration that has been put together, all to say “thanks” to any veterans or their partners.
I saw the lineup of food Chuck had secured from local restaurants, all wanting to chip in to help, and if you didn’t go for any other reason, then you need to go for the lunch. There are about a dozen restaurants who will offer free food of every kind you can imagine. And I am familiar with virtually every restaurant on the list and you can take it from me that the layout will be as good as a casino buffet—and most of you know that is saying something!
Chuck is also joining with the New Orleans Pelicans to hold a “Hoops for Troops” night on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Special military discounts are available from Eldercare to purchase $5 balcony seats and go to the NBA game.
Call Chuck at 504-251-8361 or email him at chucksabadie@gmail.com to join in the fun.
Kevin Chiri can be reached by e-mail at kevinchiri@gmail.com.