Community, comfort
and
convenience are three words Fran Baker, 42, of Brunswick, Ga., uses to
describe her experience at Southeast Georgia Health System as a result
of another word that begins with “C” — cancer. Born
and raised in Screven, Ga., Baker says she lived a “Leave it to
Beaver” kind of life. But her life changed significantly when she
turned 40. Two months after celebrating her birthday in New York City
with friends, her father had a stroke. “My whole world began to
crash down around me,” says Baker.
Less than a week later, Baker’s father suffered another stroke and
she went into “survival mode.” Knowing she still needed to
take care of her own health, Baker scheduled her annual appointment with
Mitchell V. Brock, M.D.,
board-certified
physician with Southeast Georgia Physician Associates-Obstetrics &
Gynecology, a strategic affiliate of the Health System. Given she had
recently turned 40, she also had her first mammogram. Baker’s father
passed away on November 8, 2014, and twelve days later she found out she
had breast cancer.
The whirlwind that had become Baker’s life sped up and became a rapid
series of doctors and decisions. She had an eight-centimeter tumor in
her right breast that was estrogen driven and being fed by her ovaries.
Therefore, she would also need a hysterectomy. “When things like
this happen,” notes Baker, “everyone wants to give you advice
about where to go and who to see. But a friend of mine
sharing
her own experience said I should trust my instincts on selecting my cancer care team
; and
she was right, I chose Southeast Georgia Health System and I wouldn’t
have gone anywhere else.”
Her confidence in the Health System was solidified after her first meeting
with Duane P. Moores, M.D., Ph.D.,
board-certified
medical oncologist with Southeast Georgia Physician Associates-Hematology
& Oncology, a strategic affiliate of the Health System. Fran recalls,
“He told me, ‘This is serious, you could die, but not today
and not on my watch.’ I never felt I got a death sentence, and after
losing my dad, knew if I could get through that I can get through cancer.”
Her decision to “stay home” was further clarified following
her appointment with Diane G. Bowen, M.D.,
board-certified
plastic surgeon with Golden Isles Center for Plastic Surgery. As they
were discussing reconstruction options, Dr. Bowen called the surgeon performing
her mastectomy, Stephen G. Barrett, M.D., a board-certified general surgeon
with Southeast Georgia Physician Associates-Glynn General & Vascular
Surgery, another strategic affiliate of the Health System. “While
I was sitting there, Dr. Bowen got Dr. Barrett on the phone, we talked
it out and decisions were made,” Baker says. “What I loved
about the care at the Health System is that each member of my team stayed
in their lane of expertise, but supported and validated one another. They
were all in sync and all right here.”
Baker underwent her mastectomy in December 2014 and began her chemotherapy
at the Southeast Georgia Health System Cancer Care Center in January 2015.
She reaffirms, “I just can’t say enough about Dr. Moores,
the Health System
and
the Cancer Care Center. When I went in for my first treatment, I recognized
nurse Donna Sulkowsky, R.N., OCN from
church
. She has a caring nature and loving spirit, and it meant a lot to me to
already know her personality and her heart. God took care of me through
the whole experience and she was one of those people who was a gift.”
Being cared for by other Health System team members she knew from the community
also contributed to her experience. “Everyone truly cares,”
says Baker. “They know who you are and they want the best for you.”
That sense of community extended beyond the Health System when The Heritage
Bank, her husband Cle’s employer, entered a bra in her honor in
the 2015 ARTrageous Bras Fundraiser. MINIONmizing Cancer was the message
of the Minion-themed bra.
And like the Minions, her husband, mom, two children and an army of friends
helped Baker through her journey with love, prayers, support
and
fellowship. She finished her treatments on December 3, 2015, and today
is more than just surviving, she is looking ahead. While the past couple
of years have been about one day and one appointment at
time
, Baker is now focused on a different word that begins with “C.”
In November, she and Cle will celebrate 15 years of marriage and will
be going on a cruise.