My mom had cancer. My aunt had cancer. And when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in my 30s, I was angry. Dr. McDaniel and my care team were committed to helping me fight this cancer on every front—through compassionate care, the latest therapies, and faith. And as my tumor disappeared, my hope emerged. God wanted me to break the curse of cancer in my family, and Montgomery Cancer Center helped me do it.
LEARN MORE
Candice—Breast Cancer Survivor
Hi, and happy fall.
When we gather on October 19 for the Walk of Life, the Joy to Life Foundation will be celebrating 20plus years of the Foundation and the Walk, our signature fundraising event. When the Foundation started in 2001, my husband and co-founder Dickie Blondheim and I had no idea it would grow and thrive and to become the life-saving organization it is today. Reflecting on JTL’s journey fills me with both gratitude and awe.
Joy to Life has a simple but powerful mission. It provides breast screenings to women in Alabama who have no insurance and cannot afford them, ensuring that no one is denied access to these vital, lifesaving procedures. In fact, according to Nancy Wright, cancer control director for the Alabama Department of Public Health, 30 percent of all breast screenings to uninsured women ages 40 to 49 are paid for by the Foundation. Nancy recently told our JTL team, “The Public Health Department’s Breast and Cervical program would not exist without Joy to Life.” How awe-inspiring is that?!
In addition to our partnership with Public Health, Joy to Life also funds screenings for women under 40 directly through our office, and that funding has made an enormous impact too! Also, while a man’s risk for breast cancer is certainly far less than a woman’s risk, it is crucial to remember that they can
have breast cancer. Joy to Life is the only organization in Alabama that will provide funding for a man to be screened. Finally, the Foundation has greatly increased awareness of breast cancer in general and the importance of regular mammograms and screenings throughout the state.
The work we do is a collective effort; Joy to Life is only successful because of the support we have received from all walks of life in our community and beyond. From the children who donate their pennies, to the major businesses and corporations that provide large donations, we say “Thank You!” from the bottom of our hearts. Your support has made a difference in so many ways.
US IN OCTOBER TO CELEBRATE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH AT ANY VINTAGE HOSPITALITY GROUP EATERY. WE'LL BE TOASTING IN PINK!
Photography by Big Dreamz Creative
it with
Make FIVE
FIVE INGREDIENT FALL FIXES
FALL
IS
ARGUABLY THE BUSIEST
TIME OF YEAR. School is in full swing. Activities are scattered across the calendar. Year-end deadlines are nearing, and the holidays are just around the corner. Finding the time to cook and prepare something from scratch can be a challenge, but this batch of recipes will help you meet that challenge.
Sometimes, less is more. And when it comes to cooking, fewer ingredients can often yield bigger flavors and better results. But if we told you a handful of ingredients could be transformed (with minimal effort) into something delightful and delicious, would you believe it? To prove it, we whipped up three tasty and nutrient-packed dishes using only five high-quality ingredients.
SIDNEY FRY, MS, RD / PHOTOGRAPHY BY BIG DREAMZ CREATIVE BY
COCONUT MILK
THICK CUT BACON
THE FIVE FOCUS
To keep focus on each dish’s cooking primary defining ingredients, we consider olive oil, salt and pepper as freebies on the ingredient list!
Butternut Squash Soup
WITH BACON & WALNUTS
SERVES 4
Worthy of its popularity, butternut squash is high in fiber, rich in beta carotene (boasting more than 450 percent of recommended intake!), low in calories (only 80 per cup!) and so easy to cook. You can even save time by purchasing it already peeled, seeded and cubed.
Most rich and hearty soups are loaded with cheese and heavy cream, but not this one. The soft, silky squash is blended with roasted garlic and toasted walnuts, then finished with a touch of coconut milk. Crisp bacon and more walnuts add the perfect crispcrunchy finish.
This soup is elegant enough to be served at a fancy party but humble enough to eat on the couch in your pajamas.
INGREDIENTS:
1 head garlic
3 ounces thick cut bacon
6 cups cubed butternut squash
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2/3 cup walnuts, toasted
1 cup lite coconut milk, unsweetened
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 425°. Cut off pointed tip of garlic bulb and place on a sheet of aluminum foil. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Seal foil. Bake 45 minutes. Let cool.
Place bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat; cook 6-8 minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon, reserving drippings; drain on paper towels. Finely chop bacon.
Increase heat to medium high. Add squash to drippings in pan; cook 5 minutes or until browned. Add 2 cups water. Cook 20 minutes or until squash is tender. Place squash mixture in a blender or food processor. Add roasted garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/3 cup walnuts. Process or blend until smooth. Return mixture to pan over medium heat. Stir in coconut milk and black pepper.
Ladle soup into bowls; top with remaining walnuts and crisp bacon.
RIGATONI PASTA
GARLIC & HERB BOURSIN CHEESE
PARMESAN CHEESE
INGREDIENTS:
1 (5.3-oz) package
Garlic & Herb Boursin Cheese
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
12 ounces whole grain rigatoni or penne pasta
3-4 cups packed baby spinach
1 1/2 cups rotisserie chicken breast, shredded
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 ounces freshly grated parmesan cheese
Boursin Chicken Pasta Bake
SERVES 6
Healthy whole grain pasta makes a hearty base for this creamy chicken- and spinach-packed pasta. Our secret ingredient here? Boursin cheese! With its rich, creamy texture, this cheese- and herb-packed product transforms into a decadent and velvety sauce when drizzled in olive oil and roasted in the oven. Simply toss the melted cheese with warm pasta, roasted chicken, baby spinach and a touch of parmesan, and, Voila! Dinner is done!
You can use this method and toss in other combinations of ingredients, too. Cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, chicken sausage, even artichokes.
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400°. Place Boursin cheese in a 13X9-inch baking dish. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Bake at 400° for 25 minutes or until melted.
While cheese bakes, cook pasta according to package directions; drain, reserving 1/2 cup hot pasta water.
Add pasta, spinach, chicken, salt and pepper to pan with melted cheese mixture. Toss to coat. Top with parmesan cheese. Bake 3 - 5 minutes or until parmesan cheese is melted.
Peanut Butter Apple Crisp
SERVES 8
Apples and peanut butter are always a good idea. But you know what’s even better? Baking them together with a little brown sugar and then topping them with crunchy whole-grain granola. And if you really want to take things up a notch, you can add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Yes, please!
Most apple crisp recipes call for loads of butter— this one replaces most of that with heart-healthy peanut butter. A little goes a long way. The granola adds a wonderfully pleasant crunch.
And, I can’t decide if this dish is better for dessert or for breakfast. Try it both ways!
I like using peanut butter granola to maximize the peanut buttery goodness in this crisp, but any variety of your favorite granola will do! Look for the natural creamy butter that requires a good hefty stir; a naturally separated nut butter not only tosses into the apples better but it’s also free of hydrogenated oils.
Meet Sidney
Sidney Fry is a two-time James-BeardAward-winning food and nutrition writer who loves creating simple, healthy recipes and thoughtful, actionable content for the hungry consumer. A healthy living proactivist, Sidney is also a registered dietitian nutritionist, recipe developer and mama of three based in Birmingham, Alabama.
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups peanut butter-flavored granola
4 tablespoon butter, melted and divided 1/4 cup all-natural creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
4 large honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored and sliced into wedges
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375°.
In a medium bowl, combine 2 tablespoons butter and granola. Toss to coat.
Heat peanut butter and remaining 2 tablespoons butter in an 8-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add sugar and apples, toss to coat.
Cover the apples evenly with granola topping. Cover with foil; bake at 375° for 15 minutes. Remove foil; bake 25 to 30 minutes or until brown and crisp.
BROWN SUGAR
PEANUT BUTTERFLAVORED GRANOLA
CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER HONEYCRISP
STEP TO IT
Since this year’s Walk is happening close to Halloween, we wanted to ensure the kids are all in! Children ages 10 and under are invited to dress up in costume and join a registered parent or guardian on the 5K route to collect candy and prizes in our Trick or Pink event. Purchasing a Trick or Pink ticket gets your child a colorful bucket, a pink mask and participation in all the fun stops along the 5K route, as well as entry into our Riverfront Celebration for more fun. The scary part? Only 100 tickets are available so hurry to walkoflife5k.org and get yours today!
PUTTING ON A PEDESTAL PINK
For cancer survivors, the Walk provides a special space: the Survivor VIP Café. Sponsored by Chappy’s Deli, the Café puts survivors front and center at the Walk’s Riverfront Celebration and features a comfortable seating and lounging area, upscale décor and a catered breakfast from Chappy’s Deli. Plus, survivors can relax and enjoy the company of other survivors while they get a bird’s eye view of everything happening in the park. It’s just one more way JTL shows survivors how much they mean to us all.
FOOD TRUCKS!
Whether you complete Joy to Life’s annual Walk of Life in record time or treat it more like a leisurely stroll, at the finish line, everyone feels like celebrating. Keep the good mood moving by refueling with eats and treats from one of the fab food trucks on site at this year’s Walk.
Southern Smoke Shack BBQ
Suga’s Lemonade
Rico’s Taco Wey
Woody’s Italian Ice
Moore’s Tasty Food
Blue Bell Ice Cream
That’s My Dog
REGISTER ONLINE
MORE THAN 20 YEARS! TO CELEBRATE
Get registered , start a team, check the route and dig into all the details of this year's Walk of Life. We're celebrating more than 20 years of walking and saving lives together in Alabama thanks to your support.
Photography by Big Dreamz
We really know how to have
FUN!
PLAY IN PINK
JTL with the Biscuits for Pink Out the Park games last summer. Seeing Riverwalk Stadium awash in pink—from whisper pale hues to screaming fuchsia—reminds us all of the great work the Foundation does and huge impact it has on the River Region and beyond. We love all the pink power support!
WE BISCUITS BASEBALL
PRETTY IN PINK
Joy to Life’s team enjoyed a wonderful Princess Night, and Biscuit Stadium was filled with princes and princesses. With a rain delay keeping the game on hold, everyone enjoyed spinning the Joy to Life prize wheel to win crowns, rings, bracelets, balls, sunglasses, fans and more. And all were invited to grab a photo at the Joy to Life royal photo booth with a carriage in place.
Photography by Big Dreamz Creative
Art with heart
The Joy to Life Foundation recently partnered with three Alabama artists who created custom works for the Foundation. The resulting art is aesthetically pleasing, but the project also has a loftier aim: to celebrate life, creativity and beauty by spreading the JTL message. Visit joytolife.org to view our new artist collection.
SARA KATHRYN HOPPLE molded three pottery pieces, each inspired by JTL and expressed in her signature style: soft colors and botanic-influenced shapes.
Jewelry maker KATHRYN TAYLOR fashioned two distinct earring designs for JTL, both showcasing her love of natural stones, gold-brushed elements and unique materials. The simple hoop with a single stone is chic and classic, while the multi-stone earring is a bit bolder. And the JTL necklace matches both.
Montgomery maker MELISSA WARNKE worked closely with the JTL team to create three candles with special, one-of-a-kind scents just for Joy to Life.
Ever wondered what Joy smells like? The Joy to Life Foundation team gathered at local maker Melissa Warnke’s candle studio to whip up a custom JTL scent. Find out more in Great Goods on page 42.
The Joy to Life Podcast continues to tell uplifting, encouraging and important stories. Check out some of the latest episodes.
SISTA S CAN SURVIVE:
SHOWING SURVIVORS SUPPORT
In 1994, Dr. Carrie Nelson (a now 35-year breast cancer survivor) established SISTAs Can Survive Coalition, the first African-American survivor run group in Alabama. Ever since, SISTAs has provided a culturally sensitive approach to combatting diseases among medically underserved populations. Along with certified trainer Shirley Nance and 2A Fitness Gym owner Ray Adkinson, Dr. Nelson provides a look at the scope of what SISTAs offers and the life-changing difference it can make.
CHECK OUT
Great Ways to find us:
NEW EPISODES MADE WITH !
RIPPLES OF KINDNESS
When Hilly Blondheim (son of Joy to Life’s co-founders, Dickie and Joy Blondheim) found out that his friend and co-worker was in dire need of a kidney transplant, he knew he wanted to help. That decision would lead Hilly, his family, his friend and a group of other like-minded people down a path that they could never have imagined. Their story proves how one act of kindness can ripple outward to touch many others.
In this episode, on location outside of Atlanta, Georgia, the Podcast enjoys its first live studio audience (which asked insightful questions of the guests) and the Podcast team plays a new game called “Where’s That Kidney?” With laughter, tears and
meaningful conversation, the episode spotlights a topic that needs to be talked about more—organ donation.
None of this would have been possible without the wonderful folks at Emory Healthcare. If you or anyone you know would be interested in potentially becoming a life-saving kidney donor at Emory Healthcare, you can register for screening at emorylivingdonor.org.
For more information about Paired Kidney Donation and the National Kidney Registry, visitkidneyregistry. org. And if you are looking for opportunities to get involved with the local (GA) Transplant Community, find more info at gatransplant.org/ get-involved/.
Visit joytolife.org and click on the “podcast” menu button to tune in to all our episodes.
PODCASTS. JOY MAGAZINE. SOCIAL MEDIA. Get news and information in a variety of formats. Find them all at joytolife.org.
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER AT JOYTOLIFE.ORG TO GET JOY TO LIFE EVENTS, GOOD NEWS AND EVEN RECIPES DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR EMAIL INBOX.
WE SAVE LIVES TO GE TH ER
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WE OUR SUPPORTERS.
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(L to R) Big shout out to our friends at Sabel Steel for their wonderful donation to help in the fight against breast cancer! Teacher Katherine Bandy and SGA President Henley Gunter came by with a $2,000 check from Trinity Presbyterian School’s K-12 October breast cancer fundraiser today!
Joy to Life, based in Montgomery, supports all 67 counties in the state through the Alabama Department of Public Health.
1,180+
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WE OUR SUPPORTERS.
(L to R) Big thanks to Audrey Davis and Payton Mathews of Auto-Owners Insurance for stopping by and dropping off some holiday cheer (in the form of a donation)! Our Evelyn Lawson welcomed Akilah Smith from Carver Elementary's PTA! She brought by a check from proceeds of their t-shirt sale. Joy spoke at their Pink Out Day. Thank you, Akilah and Carver Elementary for your support!
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IN ALABAMA YOUR 2023 SUPPORT MADE AN IMPACT
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THERE IS ROOM FOR YOUR NAME TOO!
Contact Evelyn Lawson at Evelyn@Joytolife.org or 334-284-5433 to make a contribution in support of breast services throughout the state of Alabama. Visit joytolife.org to make a donation online. #LIVEHEREGIVEHERE
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Cappie Suttle
Anne Sutton
Sweet Water Baptist Church
Morris Taffet
Christia Nicole Robinson
Daniel & Bessie Robinson
Tamika Robinson
Ronald Robusky
Denise Rodgers
Yizza Rodriguez
Derek Rogers
Frank Rogers
Kevin Rogers
Mary Rogers
Michael Rogers
Arlet Roper
Shanetta Ross
Alan Rothfeder
Royal Nail Spa
Judy Rubel
Pamela Rudolph
Mary Rush
Angela Russell
Melody Russell
W. F. Ryan
Jennifer Rye
Grover Sampson
Xavier Samuel
Sanctuary, Canaan Hill
Missionary Baptist Church
Dorothy Sand
Malissa Sanderson
Chiquita Sapp
Maxine and Jack Schiffman
Adam Schloss
Dan Schlotterbeck
RaVonda Schritter
Kathy Schwartz
Lovonnia Scott
Ray & Angela Scott
Rick Scott
Shelia Scott
Vivian Scott
Shamekia Seaborn
Cashana Seals
R. Seals
Willie & Lindy Seals
Sophia Seals Lewis
David & Rhonda Seay
Bobby Segall
Young Hee Seo
Seth Johnson Elementary
Stacy Sexton
Faith Seymore
Shaaban Court 126 Imperial Court of the Aeaonms, Inc
Tiffany Shaver
Brian Shewmaker
Teresa Shewmaker
In Shin
Barbara Shiver
Angele Shropshire-Stroud
Laura and David Sikes
Lessie Simpson
Cherron Simpson Folks
Alice C. Smith
Antonio Smith
Brenda Smith
Brett Smith
Brittany Smith
Diane Smith
Kimberly Smith
Lorenza D. Smith
Dorinda Talley
Margaret Taylor
Ricci Taylor
Shermone Taylor
Vera Taylor
Wendy Taylor-Hill
Yolanda Temple
Catlin & Erin Tench
Judy Tharp
The New Morning Star
Missionary Baptist Church
Thelma Smiley Morris Elementary
Angela Thomas
Carvester Thomas
Cheryl Thomas
Frankie Thomas
Kadeyia Thomas
Keisha Thomas
Lorraine Thomas
Robert Thomas
Sandra Thomas
Shannon Tolbert
(L to R) Macon East SGA President, Ethan Jones, and SGA Vice President, Bryant Morrison, presented a check to the Joy to Life Foundation for $1850 raised by families who purchased "pink" items in October with PTO or MEA cheerleaders along with Macon East SGA dress down in pink days. Joy to Life always has a great time with the crew at Kinedyne! Joy to Life co-founder Joy Blondheim with Ashely Speigner.
WE OUR SUPPORTERS.
THANK YOU!
THANKS SO MUCH!
Kenyel Toles- Buyck
Marcus Townsend
Angie Trimble
Barbara Truelove
Truist Bank
Lamar Turner
Paulette Underwood
Belinda Urquhart
Raulnina Uzzle
Erika Vogel
Jimmie Wade
Robert Wagstaff
Lisa Walden
Lynniece Walker
Ami Waller
Kay Warfield
Melody Washington
Rachell Washington
Rita Washington
Chantelle Watson
Frances Watts
Mandy Weaver
Jan Weil
Laurie Weil
Michael Weinrib
Kay Welch
Crystal Wells
Shannon Weston
Sandra Whaley
Gilbert & Noella Whavers
James White
Kamelah White
Marcus White
Shirley White
Sumara White
Walter White
Mary E. Wiggins
Alfred Williams
Alice Williams
Carmen Williams
Chemeka Williams
Christy Williams
Dasia Williams
Felicia Williams
James Williams
Jerry Williams
Kanzy Williams
Kayla Williams
LaSonya Williams
Louise Williams
Marsha Williams
Michael Williams
Minnie Williams
Nature Williams
Patricia Williams
Rickiya Williams
Tamaka Williams
Tiara Williams
Glenda R. Wilson
Sharon Wilson
Shelia Wilson
Kenneth Winn
Carolyn Wood
Candita Woodruff
Janice Woodruff
Amanda Wright
Johnesha Wright
Justice Wright
Naderrick Wright
Chunyuan Xu
Claudette Yarber
Keskari Yates
Birdie Young
Jennifer Zaden
Dawson Zhang
Alison Zuker
A big thank you to our 2024 Walk of Life Sponsors.
DIAMOND SPONSORS: ASE Credit Union
Big Lots
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Hyundai
Bush Hog
PLATINUM SPONSORS: Baptist Health Montgomery County Commissioners
GOLD SPONSORS:
Rheem Manufacturing Company
Lowder Family Foundation
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO:
(L to R) Thanks to Samantha from the Jackson Wellness Center for stopping by and donating the proceeds from their second annual Walk for Women to Joy to Life! Thanks to Michael Hughes and the Montgomery Trooper Post for dropping by with a $1000 donation from the sale of their “Bustin’ For A Cure” t-shirts! What a unique way to show support!
A
CONVERSATION WITH
ANIETRA JONES MAYS
Anietra Jones Mays believes in the power of positive thinking. But she had help living up to her “good mood” mantra; faith, friends and family provided the firm foundation she needed to stay on the sunny side.
Tell us a little bit about your cancer diagnosis and treatment. I initially noted a breast lump during my self-examination. My annual routine mammogram was taken three months prior to the discovery of the lump. I called my OBGYN and was seen the next day. I was sent over to Montgomery Breast Center for a diagnostic imaging. A digital diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound was obtained. A mass was identified and biopsied three days later. On March 24, 2022, I was diagnosed with stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma TNBC. I received treatment at Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Atlanta, which is now City of Hope at Atlanta. My treatment included a hard six months of chemotherapy along with Immunotherapy, physical therapy (due to the extreme toxicity) and a bilateral mastectomy. Shortly after my surgery, the immunotherapy resumed but for only four months. It was discontinued due to worsening side effects from the therapy. At this time, I am No Evidence of Disease.
Photography by Big Dreamz Creative.
What was your first thought when you heard the diagnosis?
My first thought was the Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I also thought of how it would impact my family, dearest friends and my teenage daughter.
Through the treatment process and after, what did you want and need from your friends and family?
Lots of prayers, rest and peace! Knowing that my daughter would be taken care of was and always will be my biggest and top priority.
What forms of help and support really stood out?
Having the most supportive family and friends during my cancer journey helped me focus on my care and not the daily tasks that life brings. The encouraging cards in the mail, gifts, text messages and calls were great, but most importantly, the prayers for complete healing of this terrible aggressive disease.
Whatever was needed, my amazing village came through for my daughter and me during and after my cancer journey. My family and friends coordinated their schedules with my sister to assist in taking me over to treatment in Atlanta when needed as back up. My amazing cousin and her husband opened their home to my family to stay when needed to reduce traveling from Montgomery to Atlanta or having to stay in a hotel all the time.
HEAR FROM SURVIVORS, COMPANIONS AND CAREGIVERS IN OUR
Strength in Numbers
Anietra Jones Mays knows nobody should walk through cancer alone. She shared practical advice on why enlisting others to walk with you is so key. “Allow your care team to work out a plan for your treatment,” she says. “Educate your family on what you’re going through. And always bring someone with you to your appointments. It always helps to have another set of ears in case you miss something.”
What one thing that you did for yourself most helped you cope?
My daily mediation was “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living, Just because he lives!”
Also, worrying was not going to change my diagnosis. Attitude is everything. I had good days and bad. It may not seem like it at first, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Always have a positive attitude.
I’m reminded of Matthew 6:34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” I face each day with grace, wisdom and understanding.
Please do not read everything on the internet and always consult with your care team. Staying positive is the most important thing you can do.
GOOD STUFF RIGHT HERE.
THE PATH TO PREVENTION HEADS IN A NEW DIRECTION WITH MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY .
of CentralAlabama . brings life-saving screeningsto
a reas
J Baptist Hea lth’s mobile mammographyunit underserved
LLast fall, a 24-foot white bus with pretty pink accents hit the road. It wasn’t ferrying kids to and from school. It wasn’t transporting rock stars to their next concert. Nicknamed “JOY,” this bus delivers high-quality healthcare—and hope —to Central Alabama’s rural areas. And now, a year later, JOY is really rolling.
The mobile mammography unit visits six to seven spots every month, and at each stop, screens
an average of 10 to 15 patients. Lizzie Norman, RT (R) (M) (BS) (ARRT), Mobile Mammography Coordinator for the Montgomery Breast Center, stressed why every mile JOY travels is so exciting. “Covid shone a light on how many women are not getting preventative care they need on a regular basis,” she says, “and when it comes to breast health, we need to find problems when they are millimeters, not centimeters. JOY helps us do that, and it is truly the realization of a dream.”
BY JENNIFER S. KORNEGAY
WHEN MONTGOMERY-BASED BAPTIST HEALTH REALIZED THAT THE PRIMARY BARRIERS TO GETTING HEALTHCARE WERE LOCATION AND LACK OF TRANSPORTATION, IT STEPPED UP.
Hospitals covering Alabama’s smaller towns and more remote areas do their best, but mammography is an expensive service to offer, and many simply can’t afford to do so. That leaves many in need of a mammogram driving an hour or more to get one, pushing some to put it off and others to say, “Never mind.” When Montgomery-based Baptist Health realized that the primary barriers to getting healthcare were location and lack of transportation, it stepped up.
And the hospital system had help. The Joy to Life (JTL) Foundation and other sponsors provided funds to help fuel the mammography bus vision. “We know that early detection saves lives,” says JTL co-founder Joy Blondheim. “It’s the motto behind everything we do, so we were thrilled to be a part of bringing JOY—the bus—to life.”
Calling the bus JOY fit for multiple reasons, according to Norman. “People hear mammogram bus, and I doubt they envision what she is, but when we say ‘JOY,’ that helps,” she says. “She’s not a scary or gloomy place at all. She was designed to be welcoming and appealing and to make patients feel comfortable.”
Since its first visit to Camden last November, demand for the bus has risen. The only limit is time. “We wish we could go everywhere, but we have to keep our distance one way within about 90 miles,” Norman says. “That’s as far as we can go and see enough patients before having to return.”
Get on theBus
Joy bus sees patients by appointment; working with referring doctors in the areas it visits each month to ensure people know it is coming and get the time slot they need is part of Lizzie Norman, Mobile Mammography Coordinator’s, job. “The bus will also accept walk-ins when it can, but that’s never guaranteed. And everyone does have to have a doctor’s referral, just like patients coming to the Montgomery Breast Center do.”
Still, more one-on-one time with individual patients is another bus bonus. “I often get to talk to patients while they wait, and I use that time to let them ask questions and help them understand or discuss their options. The education piece of this is really vital too,” Norman says. “We don’t always get to do that with women in Montgomery at the breast center.”
Making proactive self-care easier brings obvious benefits for the patients served, and Norman finds fulfillment. “Everyone is always so impressed by how nice the bus is, and also, so incredibly thankful that we are taking the time to come out and be a presence in their community,” she says. “Sometimes, in the clinic, where we might see 100 patients a day, we forget how important this is, but when we’re out in these little communities, we remember what a difference we can make for others.”
On the Road, But Just Like Home
For those wondering how services offered by Baptist Health’s mobile mammography unit compare to those offered at the Montgomery Breast Center, Lizzie Norman, Mobile Mammography Coordinator, says, listen up.
“It’s outfitted with the exact same machine we use at the Montgomery Breast Center,” she says, “which does 3D mammograms, the gold standard for breast imaging. And it looks just like a regular mammogram room inside.”
There’s also a wheelchair lift for those who need it, and a pinked-out place to relax while waiting. “It’s really comfy and even cozy,” Norman says. “There are even these really pretty breast cancer ribbons that are backlit decorating the ceiling.”
MEET YOUR CAPTAIN
Lizzie Norman, Mobile Mammography Coordinator, has been working in mammography since 2018 and been with Baptist Health since 2022. When she first heard about the JOY bus, she asked to be involved.
“I’m passionate about breast health and rural healthcare, so I knew I wanted to be a part of it,” she says. Now, she spearheads everything JOY. “It’s all under my umbrella—scheduling visits, identifying new places we need to go, community outreach and education, overseeing bus maintenance, registering patients on our visits, driving the bus and sometimes, doing the actual imaging.”
Driving Hope:
Podcast with Kadie Agnew & Lizzie Norman
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to drive a 24-foot cab truck around and provide life-saving breast screenings, then this is the podcast for you!
In November of 2023, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Lizzie Norman, the Mobile Mammography Coordinator at Montgomery Cancer Center, and Kadie Agnew, Director of Marketing & Communications at Baptist Health, to talk about their “Driving Hope” program which features a state-of-the-art Mobile Mammography Unit named “JOY” that Baptist had just unveiled.
“JOY” has since made numerous trips in the central Alabama area and, as you’ll hear, there will be a second mobile unit coming to join her in the Driving Hope program!
Drawing strength and inspiration from their own ups and downs in life, two friends in Millbrook are spreading awareness and joy all over Central Alabama
We often tell children to “turn that frown upside down.” It sounds trivial—as adults we more often advise loved ones to “look for the sliver lining.” But the sentiment is the same. And what we’re telling others and sometimes, ourselves, to do—transform tragedy into a positive—isn’t just hard, it can feel downright impossible. Yet, that’s exactly what Kay Dobbs and Bobby Bingham have done, not just once, but over and over again. The close friends and now family (Kay’s son is married to Bobby’s daughter) share stories of surviving, thriving and the rewards they reap from spreading joy—and awareness about the Joy to Life Foundation.
An Answer to An Unasked Question
In 1997, Kay was diagnosed with breast cancer. A mammogram caught it early, and after a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation, she was in remission. With the support of her husband and friends, Kay made it through relatively unscathed. “I lost every hair on my body, but it didn’t bother me,” she says. “I had my faith, and right after diagnosis, I went to our small church and prayed at the altar, asking to be okay so I could see my family grow and my grandkids grow up.”
What she didn’t ask was, “Why me?” A fun group of gal pals kept her spirits up, often calling her and saying, “Grab your wig, we’re going to lunch!” And she’d go. “There were no pity parties,” she says. But 10 years later, her breast cancer came back. And with its return came the answer to the unasked “Why?” When her thirty-something daughter came to help her recover after her mastectomy, Kay told her to go home and get a mammogram. She initially protested, saying she wasn’t old enough, but mom insisted. “She got one done, and they found breast cancer,” Kay says. It was early and treatable.
Sharing is Caring
In 2014, Kay’s breast cancer came back again, in her remaining breast, so she underwent another mastectomy and more chemo. She stayed upbeat, but physically, her journey got tougher. “I was 70 then, so the chemo was rough. It’s just harder to take when you are older,” she says. But she continued to RSVP “no” to any pity parties.
Pass Onit
When her thirty-something daughter came to help her recover after her mastectomy, Kay told her to go home and get a mammogram. “I believe my second round of breast cancer saved my daughter’s life.”
Instead, she channeled her energies outward, getting involved in local breast cancer organizations, raising funds by walking in walks, showing off the latest looks in fundraising fashion-shows and more. “It was so uplifting to be with other women who could relate,” she says. Kay found common ground and support; the other ladies benefitted from her survivor story. After three bouts with cancer, Kay’s outlook is still sunny. And today, she and her friend Bobby are shining that light on others.
BY JENNIFER S. KORNEGAY / PHOTOGRAPHY BY BIG DREAMZ CREATIVE
Spreading JOY
For decades, Kay and her late husband Edd were thick as thieves with Bobby and his late wife. When Bobby’s wife passed, Bobby relied more on his best friend Edd. When Edd died in 2020, Bobby and Kay tightened the bond further, becoming family when their kids married. Now, Bobby is Kay’s closest ally in her quest to spread breast cancer awareness and hope. “Any way I can help, I want to,” Kay says. “I want everyone to know they have to stay on top of their health; they have to get regular screenings and mammograms.”
She and Bobby are using the power of pink to keep people thinking about breast cancer. When Edd was still alive, he and Bobby twisted horseshoes into breast cancer ribbon shapes and painted them pink. They’d sell them and donate the money to a breast cancer charity in the Georgia town where they used to live.
“We all have the ability to give other people hope, and it’s not even that hard,” he says. “And, when they have hope, they can make it.”
Currently, a Joy to Life Foundation pink trashcan in front of Kay’s house greets the hundreds of cars that travel the busy street every day. “If one person sees it and thinks, ‘I need to get my mammogram,’ that’s a win,” Bobby says. The two have purchased 15 more Foundation trash cans and given them to others to amplify the message.
They buy bags of pin-on pink breast cancer ribbons and hand them out all over town. This seemingly small
gesture makes a big impact, a fact Kay was reminded of last fall, when she encountered a man dressed in pink from head to toe. “We were having lunch at Chappy’s Deli, and I noticed his pink shoes, so I walked over and asked to shake his hand, explaining I was a breast cancer survivor and giving him a ribbon,” she says. “He told me his mom just died of breast cancer, and there was this instant connection, this sense of closeness with a complete stranger.” Now, anytime Kay and Bobby eat a meal at Chappy’s, she recalls that moment and is warmed all over again.
The Power of Pink Bobby joined the pink parade years ago and still often wears a pink ribbon T-shirt, especially when they’re out and about.
“It’s just one more way to remind people about breast cancer or maybe to start a conversation,” he says.
And talking is paramount, according to Kay. “Everyone has a story, and as we meet these people, we tell ours and learn theirs,” she says. “Opening up to others is key in the cancer fight. We can provide important information and encouragement, but we have to talk and be honest and real.”
The main message she and Bobby want to communicate with their pops of pink, acts of kindness and words of support is hope but also: “Get your mammogram!”
Kay says. Three times the screening saved her life and once, her daughter’s life. And she’s not interested in excuses. “Don’t tell me there’s no family history; we had no family history,” she says. “And don’t tell me it hurts. You know what hurts more? Having a boob whacked off!” She laughs through her soapbox speech, but it’s clear she’s serious.
While she and Bobby can no longer do Joy to Life’s annual Walk of Life—they walked that walk along with talking the talk for years—they remain on the breast cancer battle’s front lines every way that they can. “I’m blessed to be in the position to buy the ribbons, buy the trash cans and help the entire family of my sister-in-law and dear friend Jeanette, who died of breast cancer, do the walk,” she says.
“I may be 80, but I’m not done yet. I can’t sit back and do nothing while I’m still able to help.” Bobby agrees with his friend. “We all have the ability to give other people hope, and it’s not even that hard,” he says. “And, when they have hope, they can make it.”
READY to go PINK?
Reminding patients to schedule their mammogram or spreading some Joy Life Foundation awareness are both great reasons to let your trash can hit the street dressed in pink. Visit joytolife.org to purchase a pink can today.
The family of Kay’s friend and sister-in-law Jeanette Crook—her daughter Brandi Madderra with her husband Eric and their two children—do the Walk of Life every year in memory of Jeanette as well as an aunt and in honor of Kay.
A NATURAL GLOW
In 2018, Melissa Warnke began pouring 100-percent soy wax candles perfumed with essential oils into containers she’d hand-gilded with gold leaf, and gifting her kids' teachers with them. After she shared one on social media, she was inundated with comments; people wanted to know how they could get the sophisticated, scentsaturated candles for themselves. When the dark days of COVID hit, the comfort of her candles really resonated, and the business hit new heights. Today, customers clamor for her candles thanks to their chic containers—the hand-done gold-leaf vessels remain best sellers—and their enticing natural aromas. "Most of our scents are light and fresh, and I’m very picky about the ingredients in every fragrance oil we use,” Warnke says. “They are certified clean, so there are no chemicals or toxic elements in our oils.” Favorites include black amber and lavender, white tea and bergamot, and tobacco and bay leaf. Candle-making parties, where groups can mix their own scents and pour their own wax to create truly personal candles, distinguish the candle company too. And, she also offers custom candles for any event, organization or business. Read more about the new Joy to Life Foundation candle created by the JTL team on the facing page!
melissawarnke.com
An extra-special Joy to Life product.
Creating a special scent
The Joy to Life Foundation team gathered at local maker Melissa Warnke’s candle studio to whip up a custom JTL scent. With Warnke’s expert help and after a lot of sample sniffing, the group settled on multiple scentsational aromas including a clean, classic sophisticated candle and one that’s infused with a more playful perfume. Both have a touch of pink (of course!) and make perfect gifts—for others or yourself. Grab some in the JTL online store at joytolife.org or at the Walk of Life JTL tent.
Photography by Big Dreamz Creative.
Photography by Becca Beers.
CONFIDENT CONFIDENT
Confidence is key to overall wellness.
BY KYM KLASS
To ensure your kids have it, start your efforts when they’re young and don’t stop. Check out our list to get started.
Confidence
Working to instill confidence in children helps them do better in school, at home and with their peers. Confidence is a key indicator of future success, because children are more likely to be motivated self-starters when they have faith that their own skills and efforts can lead to positive outcomes, according to CNBC Make It, in an article focused on raising successful kids. Plus, the proper level of confidence brings with it perseverance— something children can carry with them well into their adolescent and adult years.
So how do you give kids this all-important confidence? First, express your unwavering belief in children, starting when they’re infants. Understanding that you have confidence in them builds confidence of their own, allowing them to believe that they have the strength and courage needed to accomplish everything from simple everyday tasks to their biggest dreams and loftiest goals.
Take the time to listen to kids and encourage them often. It’s also essential to foster their creativity, and sometimes, even let them fail. According to the CNBC article, creativity can go a long way in boosting their confidence by allowing them the freedom to take risks and try new ideas, which can help build another trait psychologists often link to future success: resilience.
“When children fear failing, it can hamper their willingness to explore and think outside the box. This impacts the key skill of creative confidence—which can carry into adulthood,” parenting researcher
Take time to listen.
Jennifer Breheny Wallace stated in the CNBC article. Wallace also shared that boosting a child’s confidence and creativity can be as simple as rethinking word choices and even the way you praise your child. “Lots of kids feel the need to be perfect because of society, culture, or their own thoughts,” Wallace stated. “But, by just changing how we talk, grown-ups can ease that tension.”
On that note, it is important to focus on building confidence and self-esteem at home, praising specific traits and behaviors, like, “I just love how you used your imagination to make up that fun game! You can be so creative!” according to Parents magazine—which suggests remembering to make your praise selective and genuine. If you are trumpeting “Good job!” every five seconds, it becomes meaningless.
As children get older, confidence can be as important as specific skills, according to Child Mind Institute. To thrive, kids need to trust in their own capabilities while, at the same time, knowing that they can handle it if they aren’t successful at something. It’s by experiencing mastery and rebounding from failure that they develop healthy self-confidence, according to CMI.
CHECK LIST CONFIDENCE
#1:
Model confidence yourself:
Check out this list of tips to help get kids moving forward with healthy confidence.
Seeing you tackle new tasks with optimism and lots of preparation sets a good example for kids. Focus on the positive things you are doing to get ready.
Hint: It starts with you.
Don’t get upset about mistakes: #2:Confidentpeopledon’tletfear offailuregetintheirway—not becausethey’resuretheywon’t everfail,butbecausetheyknow how to take setbacks in stride.
#3:
Encourage them to try new things: Instead of focusing all their energy on what they already excel at, it’s good for kids to diversify.
#4:
Help kids find their passion: Exploring their own interests can help kids develop a sense of identity, which is essential to building confidence.
Help them set #5:
G ALS
Articulating goals, large and small, and achieving them makes kids feel strong. You’ll be validating their interests and helping them learn the skills they’ll need to attain their goals throughout life.
#6:
Celebrate effort:
It’s important to let them know you’re proud of their efforts regardless of the outcome.
Embrace imperfection:
Praise perseverance: Confidence and self-esteem are not about succeeding at everything all the time; they’re about being resilient enough to keep trying and not being distressed if you’re not the best.
Help kids see that whether it’s on TV, in a magazine, or on a friend’s social media feed, the idea that others are always happy, successful, and perfectly dressed is a fantasy, and a destructive one.
#10:
Allow kids to fail:
Trial and error is how kids learn, and falling short on a goal helps kids find out that it’s not fatal. It can also spur kids to greater effort, which will serve them well as adults.
Unload dishwasherthe
Walk the dog after school
#7: #8: #9: #12: #11:
Set them up for success: Challenges are good for kids, but they should also have opportunities where they can be sure to find success, helping them feel comfortable and confident enough to tackle a bigger challenge.
Expect them to pitch in: They might complain, but kids feel more connected and valued when they’re counted on to do ageappropriate jobs.
Source: Child Mind Institute Love, Mom
Show your love: Let your children know you love them no matter what.
A couple of ideas:
Have younger kids help make simple recipes, even if it's messier.
Ask older kids to pick up items at the store or the dry cleaning each week.
FORWARD MOTION
BY KYM KLASS
Somatic yoga
Explore
With a focus on movement and mindfulness, somatic yoga can be a key step in your journey to physical and mental wellbeing.
digs deeper than stretches. It combines somatics—a movement practice concerned with how things feel from within—with yoga. Soma means “body” in Greek, and the field of somatics was developed by Thomas Hanna in the 1970s. It uses the overlapping realms of bodywork, movement and psychotherapy and asks you to pay attention to, and be guided by, your internal experience, according to Yoga Journal.
Designed to help you become more embodied—or led by how you feel in your body—somatic yoga relies on slow movements and minimal alignment cues. By using mindfulness to learn and understand where your physical, mental and emotional comfort zones are as well as where and how you store tension, trauma and joy in your body, it helps retrain your brain to allow muscles to relax fully and go back to their natural state. This can undo habitual learned movement patterns that can lead to pain, according to Deniz Aydoslu, founder of Somatic Yoga for Mental Health.
It can also be a first step in releasing old memories and patterns, balancing your body and mind, getting in touch with gut feelings and intuition, and ultimately moving toward a sense of being empowered and whole, according to Yoga Journal.
The main difference between traditional yoga and somatic yoga is that in somatic, the main intention is to not stretch
a muscle. Instead, somatic yoga is intended to reprogram and strengthen the brain-to-muscle connection and in so doing, heal both physical and emotional pain, according to Kendra Hamm, a certified yoga instructor who practices and instructs in the Dothan area and who also works as grant program coordinator for Wings Across Alabama, a mental health organization that offers healing through shared experiences. “Somatic yoga releases energy blockages in the body that can manifest as muscle and joint pain, tightness, or discomfort,” she says. “Yoga brings awareness back to the body, where it is hurting, and potentially why.”
Many people are interested in the “healing” aspects of yoga, and somatic yoga offers it on another level. But, this “healing can re-open old wounds,” said Hamm. Somatic yoga was part of her mental health recovery, and she often tells people that if they are going to undertake somatic yoga, “to make sure support is available because the practice can be intense and strong memories, traumas and emotions can arise.”
Frank “Breeze” Smith of Breezeville Yoga said somatic yoga is a time to slow it down. He offers somatic yoga at his Montgomery studio. “It gets you more in touch with your inner body and what’s going on inside,” he said. “You’re more aware with what your body is doing. Taking that breath—keeping all your awareness coming in ... and with what’s happening in your body. If you have an
yogayays
This practice can:
RELEASE TENSION:
Through gentle, mindful movements and breathwork, it helps release tension and tightness held within the body.
IMPROVE BODY AWARENESS:
It cultivates greater body awareness, allowing individuals to tune into subtle sensations and signals from the body.
REDUCE STRESS:
By engaging in slow, rhythmic movements and conscious breathing, practitioners activate the body’s relaxation response, counteracting the effects of chronic stress and promoting a sense of calm and well-being.
ENHANCE MIND-BODY CONNECTION:
It facilitates a deeper connection between the mind and body, promoting integration and harmony. By bringing attention to the present moment and cultivating mindfulness, practitioners can develop a greater sense of wholeness and alignment within themselves.
(Source: katikaia.com)
injury, you breath into it. And when you breath into it, you release it. And let it go.”
Hamm echoed Smith and reiterated the need to be aware of what somatic yoga might bring to the surface before starting it. “Our bodies hold memories that our minds may have blocked or forgotten,” said Hamm. “Connecting with the body through somatic yoga can trigger these memories, so having a support system in place in the event the experience becomes overwhelming is important.” It is also ok to stop if the experience becomes too intense.
“Somatic yoga releases energy blockages in the body that can manifest as muscle and joint pain, tightness, or discomfort.”
PROVIDING MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY TO RURAL AREAS
Montgomery Cancer Center and Baptist Health are unveiling JOY, a state-of-the-art mobile mammography unit to bring enhanced breast cancer screening technology to underserved communities in Central Alabama.
The 24-foot, state-of-the-art unit, staffed with Montgomery Cancer Center professionals, will increase healthcare accessibility and education for residents in 12 counties. The JOY team will manage treatment plans in a caring environment that extends beyond the initial screening period, offering comfort and assistance throughout the treatment management process.
In addition to JOY, Baptist Health’s Driving Hope Initiative recently launched a second mobile unit, HOPE, which aids in the fight against cancer by providing general cancer screenings and education to people in Central Alabama.
Learn more at MONTGOMERYCANCERCENTER.COM/DRIVING-HOPE
