In the early days after a breast cancer diagnosis, the focus is on survival.
But there comes a time when a woman is ready to reclaim the way she looked and felt before a mastectomy. And that’s when she can benefit from the assistance of certified mastectomy fitters and physical therapists.
These medical professionals at Methodist Rehab help women improve their self image and return to the activities they love.
After his son recovered from a life-threatening brain injury at Methodist Rehabilitation Center (MRC), Sam Lane Sr. wanted to make sure others would have access to the same healing care.
He joined the board of MRC’s Wilson Research Foundation and has helped raise $1 million in donations and pledges to fund groundbreaking research and technologies for people with stroke, brain or spinal cord injuries.
Methodist Rehabilitation Center recently became the only hospital in Mississippi to receive specialty accreditation for brain and spinal injury rehabilitation and one of only six with specialty accreditation in stroke rehab.
The Jackson hospital received the three-year accreditation from CARF International, an independent, non-profit organization that has been measuring the quality of medical rehab programs since 1966.
Hattiesburg pediatrician John Gaudet likes to get up close and personal with his young patients.
So when muscular dystrophy began to hamper his hands-on style, he sought help from the Assistive Technology (AT) Clinic at Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson.
Clinic staff looked at Gaudet’s health and lifestyle needs, and custom-fit the active physician with a standing power wheelchair. Now he can rise high to reach babies in hospital bassinets or go low to capture wiggly toddlers at his Children¹s Medical Group office.
HATTIESBURG- Thanks to the combined efforts of a local family, many friends and several businesses, a Brazilian woman will soon be on her way home with a new spring in her step.
Sonia Fogal and Joey Brinson make no bones about their competitive spirits.
Fogal, 42, and a Jackson resident, has played softball and volleyball. Brinson, 33, a Brandon native now living in Okolona, says he’s always liked “different” sports
Neither lost that spirit when separate traffic accidents took away the use of their legs.
Ruby Nunnery has spent more than 28 happy years as unit secretary for St. Dominic Behavioral Health Services in Jackson.
So when a stroke threatened her reign as everyone’s favorite Girl Friday, Nunnery was heartbroken – until she found the help she needed to reclaim the job she loves.
“It was one of the happiest days when I came back to work,” she said.
Nunnery says the transition was made easier by her hard work at Quest, Methodist Rehabilitation Center’s community reintegration program for brain injury survivors.
May 15 Walk & Roll to honor patients
At 10 a.m. on May 15, the Wilson Research Foundation at Methodist Rehabilitation Center (MRC) will host its inaugural Walk & Roll for Research to honor past or current patients and residents. The event will be held at Methodist Specialty Care Center, One Layfair Drive in Flowood (located between Mirror Lake Plaza and River Oaks Hospital.)
When Ruthie Adams was named Methodist Rehab’s latest Clinical Services Employee of the Year, the award highlighted a profession that doesn’t always get its due.
“A lot of times, case managers don’t get recognized because we work behind the scenes,” explains Adams. “Even the patients might not realize all we do until they get home.”
After more than 1,500 Mondays on the same job, Ann Hardy could be forgiven for an occasional day when she dreaded starting another work week.
So far, it hasn’t happened.
“She has the best attitude of any employee I’ve ever seen,” said Suzy Mayer, director of therapy services at Methodist Rehabilitation Center (MRC) in Jackson. “She truly loves what she does.”