9 minute read
REAL LIFE
FIRST-HAND ADVICE AND INSIGHT TO HELP CAREGIVERS COPE
Photography by Big Dreamz Creative
A DISCUSSION WITH JANNAH BAILEY
When she received her breast cancer diagnosis, Montgomery native Jannah Bailey took a normal knee-jerk reaction to the news and turned it on its head, finding the strength to fight. But she wasn’t alone. An army of friends and family stood beside her to help.
Tell us about your cancer diagnosis and treatment.
I had noticed a “dimple” on the underside of my right breast that was slowly getting bigger. I thought it was like cellulite, just another sign of getting old! I heard Joy [Blondheim, co-founder of the Joy to Life Foundation] speak, and she talked about the different signs of breast cancer. One was dimpling in the breast. It, of course, caused me concern. During this same time, our group of six longtime friends had gone on a girls’ trip, and one of those ladies had a lump she was telling she was concerned about. Shortly after the trip, she was getting her diagnosis, and I went with her. Sitting with her in the doctor’s office and hearing them tell her she had breast cancer, I realized that I probably did too. I decided to go and have my dimple looked at. My GYN was pretty sure it was cancer with just a look at my breast, so I went immediately to the Breast Cancer Center where I got an ultrasound and biopsy. I was diagnosed with Stage One Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. I had surgery on March 26, 2015, and 42 radiation treatments.
What was your first thought when you heard the diagnosis?
My initial reaction was anger. After working so long at Child Protect and seeing the results of what some pretty awful people did to kids, I didn’t understand why my family and I had to go through this. I did good in the world, so why me? It really sucked! But after crying and shouting in the car by myself, I then asked, why not me? How can I use this experience to encourage and support others with this same disease? That tiny change in my own attitude gave me the strength to fight and make sure cancer didn’t win.
Through the treatment process and after, what did you want and need from your friends and family?
I could not have made it through the initial surgery and follow-up treatments without my family, friends and even people I barely knew, but it was really after all that when I needed and relied on them the most. The fear of the cancer coming back is always in the back of my mind, and to be able to pick up the phone and call or text or meet for lunch just to express that helped give me the courage to stay positive.
What forms of help and support really stood out?
The cards and calls that came when I really needed them. The push to stay positive while ensuring me that I needed to acknowledge my feelings of anger and sadness. One of my friends, Laurie Weil, dropped off a blanket and the sweetest note to my office right after I started radiation. That blanket still means so much to me. It continues to give me hugs, and now when I know of someone else who has been diagnosed, I too gift them with a blanket. I also received a piece of art from Kay Sasser Jacoby the day before my surgery that I have hanging today in my house where I see it every single day. “With each new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” – Eleanor Roosevelt HEAR FROM SURVIVORS, COMPANIONS AND CAREGIVERS IN OUR
Real Life
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In March of 2022 , Jannah Bailey accepted the position of President/CEO of the River Region United Way, becoming the organization’s first female in this position in its almost 100-year history. Prior to this role, she served at Child Protect, Children’s Advocacy Center as its executive director for 21 years.
What one thing that you did for yourself (exercise, mediation, prayer, some other habit, etc.) most helped you cope?
My family was my No. 1 reason for never ever giving up. Making future plans, no matter how big or small, also has helped me. Having something to look forward to gives you an excitement and anticipation of the future that you don’t want to miss out on. Hiking, one of my favorite hobbies, became even more important to me. It is where I can be quiet and disconnected, away from all of the stress and noise. I love the mountains, and that is where I feel the closest to God.
What advice would you give others on how to approach and help their loved one going through cancer treatment?
To me, the most important thing is to allow your family member/friend/whoever you know who is going through cancer to feel their feelings. Don’t discount their anger or sadness but just let them go through it and listen. Love and support them through it all. Send a card randomly. I promise those cards, calls or texts came at the exact time that I needed them. Let them talk about it. And don’t hesitate in telling them about stuff you have going on in your own life. I still wanted to hear about my friends’ and family members’ struggles and challenges, so I could be there for them, too. That gave me something else to focus on that wasn’t just me and my cancer.
Wellthier You T H E PATH TO A
TAKE THESE SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT STEPS TO IMPROVE YOUR OVERALL WELLNESS. YOU’RE WORTH IT!
BY JENNIFER STEWART KORNEGAY
Hydrate.
Water is a basic building block of wellness. Every single cell in your body depends on water to do its job. Without enough water, cells just don’t function correctly, leading to a host of negative effects on your overall health, from mild to more serious. On the flipside, staying hydrated brings with it a long list of health benefits, so drink up. But how much? The standard water consumption is eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. But every body is different, and some folks need more than that. When you exercise heavily or sweat excessively due to heat or other exertion, you’ll need more to replace the fluids you’re losing. And the older we get, the more likely we are to let ourselves get dehydrated. Aging brains don’t always send our bodies the “I’m thirsty” signal. And in related “what you put in your body” advice: Cut back on sugar and booze.
Get Moving.
You don’t have to do an intense, hour-long workout session to reap the good effects of exercise. Even a small amount of activity can bring powerful benefits. Try setting reminders on your phone to alert you to do some basic stretches four or five times a day. And each day, try to take a couple of 15- to 20-minute walks around your yard or around the block.
Get outside.
You know you feel a little better and a little brighter when you get a good dose of sunshine and fill your lungs with fresh air. But there’s real science behind the idea too. Sunlight increases your levels of the valuable vitamin D and regulates your circadian rhythm, which means better and more restorative sleep. Experiencing the great outdoors also increases levels of serotonin (the “happy” chemical) in your brain. And the outside air can improve digestion and boost your energy.
THE PATH TO A WELLTHIER YOU
Embrace the morning.
Multiple scientific studies show that “morning people” tend to be more productive, more positive and generally, healthier than night owls. They also selfidentify as happier. And you can become a morning person even if you weren’t born one. It starts with going to bed a bit earlier and then rising at roughly the same time every day to make it a habit.
HALF E M PTY
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Practice gratitude and giving back.
Even in hard times, most of us can find something to be thankful for if we stop and think about it. So that’s exactly what you should do each day. Look for the blessings, both big and small, all around you. Focus on them and let gratitude lift your attitude. Then, pass it along by being a blessing to someone else.
Get organized.
Organization will make your life less stressful and bump up your energy and confidence. Recent studies have shown that people who see their homes as cluttered and chaotic suffer higher rates of depression and fatigue. In contract, those who describe their homes as neat and organized had lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and felt more relaxed in their living spaces. When you feel more restored and rested in general, this can improve every area of your life. It can help you sleep better, stick to other healthy lifestyle choices like eating right and exercising, and strengthen relationships by giving you more time for others (and putting you in a better mood when you’re with them).
YOU’RE WORTH IT.
Be intentional about smiling.
This one’s easy. Make a point to smile throughout your day, even if you don’t think you feel like it. Often, just this tiny facial flip-up can change the direction of your perspective too.
We all get busy, but when you’re moving too fast, sometimes, your priorities get out of balance, and you don’t even know it. Pay attention to what you’re putting the most emphasis on in your life. Are they the things that will really matter in the long haul? Be sure to make time for friends and family. A simple check-in call or text once a week can keep bonds tight, but don’t forget to plan actual face time too. Nothing is as good for our emotional and mental health as a warm hug and good laugh with someone we love.
Never stop learning and growing.
Continued self-development and selfimprovement keeps your mind sharp and adds to your sense of purpose, which in turn lifts your mood. Plus, by being open to and exploring new things, you’re likely to find a new interest or hobby to dive into. Having a passion always pushes your wellness quotient higher.
