Our voıceA publication about the team that cares for our patients.

JENNY WINEGAR, RNLiving a healthier, happier life

Friendship and Support

When You Need It Most

January 2017

T H O M P S O N

Sherry

RN // 15 years // House Administration at CHI Memorial Hixson

FUN FACT

Owns a hot dog cart business named Doggonit. She also loves to

plan weddings.

SHERRY THOMPSON has always dreamed big. But it wasn’t until her husband’s spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down that she really started to put those dreams into action.

“He said, ‘Honey, one day you may wake up like I am and haven’t accomplished all you wanted to do in your life. If there are things you’re dreaming about, you better go after them.’ I give him a lot of credit for giving me the push to get started.”

She made a list of all the things she wanted to do and one by one started checking them off. First up was attending night classes to get a bachelor’s degree in theology. “Nursing always was a way for me to serve others, but this helped me put my faith into action in an even greater way,” says Sherry.

Next, Sherry pursued her interest in painting, again encouraged by her husband. She never gave much thought of her love of drawing, especially coming from a family of musicians. “I started watching Bob Ross, a television painting instructor, and tried to mimic what he did,” says Sherry. “It was so much fun to see that I could bring people to life. I realized then that this was one of my gifts.”

Sherry’s art has touched many people. She’s even dedicated paintings to fallen firefighters and has given paintings as gifts for friends and family. Several of her works have hung on the walls at CHI Memorial through the Arts in Healing program. And for a time, she also had an art studio on Signal Mountain where she loved connecting with and learning from other artists.

Recently, Sherry purchased a piece of land and has plans to build an event barn. There, she hopes to bring together several of her loves by offering an art studio, furniture-building space and a family-friendly venue for parties, live music and weddings—all for the purpose of encouraging and building other people up.

“If you want to do something in life, you need to invest in that dream—even if it’s in a small way. If you want to paint, buy a canvas. If you want to go on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, start your fund with $20. Do something right now that puts you a step closer to your goal. And pretty quickly, you’re doing it,” says Sherry. “When it came down to it, I started thinking about my life and retirement and getting closer to the finish line. It just made me want to run harder.”

Bucket List LIVINGhow do you dream big?

i was experiencing numbness in my face, and they couldn’t explain why,” says Jenny. “After extensive bloodwork and testing, my doctor finally addressed a

problem that I hadn’t considered—that my weight could be the cause.”

“This was really a wakeup call for me, and it motivated me to make a change and lose weight like nothing had before,” she says. “I’d always been heavy. My family is heavy, and I honestly didn’t realize how big I had gotten after having my kids and working the night shift for four years. I felt so sluggish. Looking back, my diet had a lot to do with how I was feeling.”

Small Changes, Big Results Jenny didn’t want to use diet aids or pills—she knew it was time for a complete lifestyle change. She started tweaking her diet and found that a low-carb approach to eating worked for her. It consists of mostly lean proteins and low carb vegetables and avoiding breads, pasta and sugar—except for the occasional treat meal. Jenny also went “cold turkey” on sweet tea and sugar in her coffee. Now she spends more time on meal prep and cooking at home. And because she’s more aware of the carb content in many foods, making better choices when eating out has gotten easier.

“Casseroles used to be a staple in our house, but now I’m really satisfied with simple eating and focus on grilled chicken and vegetables. But I do try to change up the flavors with seasonings by finding new ways to prepare side dishes,” says Jenny. “If you need inspiration, there are so many Facebook groups and websites to follow that offer great ideas.” You can even find information on

CHI Memorial Modifiers web page at www.timesfreepress.com/toh.

In addition to her new approach to eating, Jenny incorporates exercise into her daily routine by taking walks with her kids whenever she can and playing outside. She also attends Zumba classes and is working through her first couch-to-5k program. But more than anything, she’s excited about all the things she and her kids are doing together—like paddle boarding, horseback riding and snow skiing for the first time.

Jenny’s advice when it comes to weight loss: keep trying. “You can fail as many times as it takes— I certainly did. Just keep going until you find the routine that works best for your body and for you. Taking better care of yourself and your health opens up your world.”

Before

“

A (Healthier!) Whole New World

W I N E G A R

Jenny

RN // 8 years // IMCU

FUN FACT Has lost 95 pounds since April 2015.

Her mom and sister have also lost more than 30 pounds each because

of her encouragement!

A registered nurse and busy mom of four, Jenny Winegar had never paid much attention to her weight—until a mysterious health scare changed her whole perspective.

Taking better care of

yourself and your health

opens up your world.

How do you live a healthy lifestyle?

WHEN A WOMAN visits the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center, she can expect the highest levels of care and compassion from a team of experts who focus exclusively on breast health. But you may not realize that three of those team members know personally what it’s like to receive care in the same place they care for women every day.

“I never thought breast cancer would happen to me— it really didn’t cross my mind at all,” says Beth Stubblefield, mammography technologist. “If I wasn’t in this field, I don’t know that I’d have been so religious about getting my mammograms on a yearly basis. Things could have turned out very differently if my cancer hadn’t been found early.”

Beth, along with ultrasound technologist Lisa Carlisle, and nurse practitioner Casey Waddle of the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center were recently diagnosed with breast cancer. After weighing their treatment options, all three ultimately decided on double mastectomies and reconstructive surgery.

Now they’re back to supporting women with an even greater sense of purpose and empathy.

“The MaryEllen Locher Breast Center isn’t just a place. It’s truly the wonderful people that work here—from nursing and imaging, to scheduling, to our surgeons—that make it so special,” says Lisa. “When I was diagnosed, Beth’s encouragement was so incredible. She had just walked through this experience, and she made it easier by sharing with me what to expect and answering some very personal questions. All the women in the breast center are like family, and I was never alone throughout the entire process.”

at MaryEllen Locher Breast Center C A R L I S L E

Lisa

Ultrasound Technologist // 8 yearsMaryEllen Locher Breast Center

FUN FACT Before being diagnosed, she

participated in a 39-mile AVON Walk to End Breast Cancer with Beth.

Friendship and Support

where do you find strength?

A New PerspectiveAccording to Beth, Lisa and Casey, having breast cancer is life-changing. But the unwavering support of family, friends and co-workers makes it more bearable.

“I’d like to think I haven’t changed how I treat my patients now that I’ve had breast cancer myself, but there is definitely a sense of connection I didn’t have before,” says Lisa. “I can be more reassuring and help women stay calm because I know some of what they’re feeling. I’ve had that MRI. I’ve had that biopsy. And I can say

with conviction that we’ll help get you through it.”

“I knew that the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center was a great place before having cancer myself,” says Beth. “But it really does change your perspective when you experience it firsthand—we’re blessed to have this center, with a great group of doctors and staff that’s like nowhere else. It’s a rare find, and this team is truly amazing.”

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MARYELLEN LOCHER BREAST CENTER SERVICES OR TO SCHEDULE AN

APPOINTMENT CALL (423) 495-4040.

W A D D L E

casey

Nurse Practitioner // 6 monthsMaryEllen Locher Breast Center

FUN FACT Sports a pink ribbon tattoo on her

right shoulder. She’s also a HUGE fan of The Walking Dead.

S T U B B L E F I E L D

beth

Mammography Technologist // 9 years MaryEllen Locher Breast Center

FUN FACT Her favorite movie is The

Shawshank Redemption. She also has a newfound love of raw oysters.

Support From Every SideAs the newest member of the team, Casey is thrilled to be working in a place that compassionately supports women and helps them through a very difficult time that they were likely not prepared to face. As mom of two young kids—Jake, 8, and Maggie, 4— she was not expecting her husband to find a lump in her breast. Now she’s a vocal breast cancer awareness advocate, and in addition to her work in the breast center, she counsels women through CHI Memorial’s Cancer Risk and Survivorship Center.

“My experience with breast cancer means I can offer a part of myself and connect more personally with my patients. I think it really helps when you can talk with a woman who’s walked in your shoes,” says Casey. “There’s definitely a sense of camaraderie and friendship with Beth and Lisa, knowing that we’ve all been through a similar experience. We’ve talked about our journeys and found that you need to have a sense of humor about what you’ve been through—sometimes laughter really is the best medicine.”

Finding a

Support

System

Beth CaseyLisa

Give the

Chance

for a

Better

Life

Fostering A Family Through

SHERYL RUSSEL had always dreamed of having a family. But previous abusive relationships left her unable to have children of her own. After her divorce, she decided to start building the family she always wanted.

“I started looking into adoption and found out that it can be a very expensive process,” says Sheryl. “Then I found an organization called Omni Visions that does fostering to adoption, and started on the very extensive background check and preparation process. It’s great because they pay adoption costs,

and I wouldn’t be able to afford adoption without their help.”

Sheryl’s first daughter, Hope Danielle, came to live with her in 2014 and was adopted the following year.

She’s graduating from high school early and has plans to become a physical therapist. This was such a huge change in Hope Danielle’s life. When Sheryl met Hope Danielle, she was failing out of school. Sheryl has since opened up her home to Adian, 13, and Kedin, 9. They’ve all had varying challenges, but are now flourishing with a stable home life.

“When foster kids come into your home, they’re often scared because they’ve been ripped out of their envi-ronment. To them, their lifestyle is normal, and they’re surprised how a functional family lives and it takes time for everyone to adjust,” says Sheryl. “But now that we are a family, I’m so much happier and I work even harder than I did before. Spending time together, having fun, playing board games—I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything. My kids are my life.”

R U S S E L L

sheryl

Health Information Technician 1 year // Cancer Services

FUN FACT

Took her kids to Gatlinburg on their first family vacation. She also

wants to earn another degree.

BECOME A FOSTER PARENTBeing a foster parent is life-changing—for you and the children you bring into your home. If you’re interested in becoming a foster parent, there are many agencies that can help you get started. If you live in Tennessee, visit tn.gov and click on Foster Care & Adoption. For Georgia residents, visit http://dfcs.dhs.georgia.gov. Click on Services and then Foster Care or Adoption.

Other private foster-to-adoption agencies are also available. Melanie and Sheryl both became foster parents through Omni Visions, an organization that provides families with specialized pre-placement and ongoing training.

Who do you turn to in times of need?

Making Waves for ChangeSheryl’s decision to become a foster parent and ultimately adopt has had a ripple effect through other relationships in her life. She’s encouraged her best friend to consider foster-ing, and now she’s adopting three small children in addition to her three biological children. Melanie Ellis, tumor registrar in Cancer Services, also decided to take the plunge because of Sheryl’s enthusiasm. Now she also has three girls who have come to live with her over the past year—Kayla, 17, Maddie, also 17, and Miranda, 12.

“I’d always thought about being a foster parent or adopting, and Sheryl gave me the encouragement I needed to go for it. She’s a very vocal advocate for giving kids—especially older kids who might not get adopted—a chance at a better life,”

says Melanie. “I told each of them from the beginning, ‘You’re my daughter. You have value, and you’re important to me.’ It’s very sad, but many children don’t ever hear that in their lives.”

For many kids who have been in the foster care system long term or have been living in a group home, learning proper self-care, life skills and respect for one another and the house rules are the first priorities. Sheryl and Melanie do acknowledge the challenges that come along with this type of commitment, but they’re also very excited and hopeful about the families they’ve created.

“If you want to make your life happier, just go for it. It’s an amazing yet humbling experience to see the difference you can make,” says Sheryl. “We shouldn’t turn away from these kids, and especially the teenagers—they’re awesome and special and deserve to have someone love and support them. We’re living proof that all the hard work is worth it.”

E L L I S

melanie

Tumor Registrar // 9 years Cancer Services

FUN FACT

Has had four original poems published. She also loves scary

movies and the TV series Doctor Who.

CHI MEMORIAL HELD ITS FIRST PEACE, LOVE AND UNITY SERVICE on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday in 1992. The annual uplifting celebration, which is open to the public, has included a variety of guest speakers complemented by musical and praise performances.

Dr. King brought hope and healing to America. We celebrate the timeless values he taught us through his example— the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership at the Peace, Love and Unity Service. These same values are displayed within the values of CHI Memorial through reverence, integrity, compassion and excellence.

Congratulations – 25 YEARS OF PEACE, LOVE AND UNITY

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDChattanooga, TN

Permit No. 256

Memorial Hospital2525 deSales AveChattanooga, TN 37404

The phrase, “a day spent with friends is always a day well spent,” rang true at the 2nd Annual CHI Memorial Family and Friends Festival on Saturday, October 22. All ages enjoyed food, games, inflatables, prizes and fellowship. We hope to see you at this event in 2017.

Good Vibes

OUR VOICE EDITORIAL BOARD

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lisa McCluskey, MBA MANAGING EDITOR Sonia Moss WRITERS Lauren Lawson CONTRIBUTORS Vickie Cox, MBA, PHR

John Steele, MSM, PHR, SHRM-CP DESIGN LEADER Victoria R. Carlson DESIGNER Caitlin Rozell PHOTOGRAPHER Brian Shakley