FOR TOSHIKA CHAMBERS, it was a moment that put everything in perspective.
Sitting in the lobby of her doctor’s office, the Lakeland native and Haines City resident waited for the results of a biopsy. Her mind swirled. A self-described “routine person,” her life revolved around her work, children, and husband. This, the doctor’s office and everything it represented, threatened to derail the routine.
She looked over. She sat next to another woman, sitting in a gown. What are you in for, the woman asked. Chambers told her.
“The woman said that she had just had her breast cancer surgery and proceeded to show me where she had surgery,” remembers Chambers. “Then she looked at me and said, ‘I’m fine, you’re going to be fine, too.’ ”
That was a key moment; it gave Chambers a glimpse of the tough road ahead, but it also put her nerves at ease.
“Thinking back, that moment represented a huge example of the community of support I never knew existed,” she says. “It was my first interaction with a Pink Sister.”
Only a few weeks earlier, Chambers had felt a lump she knew wasn’t supposed to be there. She had turned 40 in 2019 and had scheduled a mammogram earlier in the year, but she had to cancel because of her busy work schedule.
“I thought that as long as I got one before the end of the year, I would be on track,” she said. So when she felt the lump, she didn’t hesitate. She set up the appointment the next day.
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TEAMING WITH TECHNOLOGY
BayCare to Implement Virtual Health Care Assistant in Hospital Rooms
Pulling at Your Heartstrings: Empathy vs. Sympathy
Mary Joye, LMHC, PA, is a licensed mental health counselor with offices in Lakeland and Winter Haven. She holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information, visit winterhavencounseling.com.
Minimize Your Risk for Heart Disease
February is American Heart Month, and the Florida Department of Health in Polk County is bringing awareness to the reality of heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately 655,000 Americans die from heart disease each year — that’s one in every four deaths.
MEDICAL ADVANCES
Watson Clinic Launches Clinical Trial of Drug Treatment for Heart Failure
KEEPING HER HEART IN THE GAME
Lake Wales Woman Works to Overcome Heart Disease With Positive Outlook, Strong Medical Team
Screening, Vaccinations Help Fight Cervical Cancer
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and an important time of year to raise awareness about the importance of cervical health screenings for women.
TRANSFORMATION
Winter Haven Operating Room Technician Opens Up About Her Weight Loss Surgery and Journey
Resolutions for Resilience
New Year’s resolutions usually involve deprivation to change behavior and this can produce a negative and resistant mindset.
WHERE SOUL MEETS BODY
Yoga Can Increase Well-Being Through Meditation, Exercise, Spirituality
A NOSE FOR COVID-19
Central Florida Company Trains Canines to Detect Virus
THE COMPETITION CONTINUES
Every spring, Frank Tiano’s Top Gun Scale Invitational has heralded the beginning of the flying season, offering builders an opportunity to show off their projects in Lakeland, Florida after a winter spent finishing them in their workshops.
ON THE PULSE
Healthcare professionals across the area finish 2020 on a strong note with accomplishments and awards
On the pulse
Our Healthcare Specialists Are Working Harder Than Ever! Don’t Miss Out on All the Exciting Awards and Recognition
Medical Memoirs
Lakeland Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Stuart Patterson Stays on the Cutting Edge of His Field
Public Access, Personal Success: Tips and Stories
Use it or lose it.
On the pulse
COVID Can’t Dampen the Spirit of Dedication and Excellence at Area Healthcare Facilities
PATIENCE and Perspective
Child Life Specialists at Lakeland Regional Health Serve Increasing Need
Decades of Service Don't Dim Lakeland Optometrist's Drive
FOR THE PAST 15 or more years, Janet Bailey, her husband, and their daughter have relied on one doctor for their eyecare: Dr. Gerard Hubbell.
A GREATER GOOD
Michelle Stagner Offers Glimpse Into How White Horse Ranch CARES
Surrounded By Inspiration
AS DOCTORS WHO work tirelessly to better serve your patients, you know better than anyone that inspiration can come from the most unexpected sources.