Help just in time - The Mercy Foundation of Clark & Champaign Counties
Julia was busy enjoying retirement, focused on spending time with her husband and great grandkids, when she lost track of her regular medical appointments. Because Julia's gynecologist had retired a few years earlier, it had become easy for her to miss her annual appointments. Without realizing it, years had passed and Julia had missed several important annual screenings.
That's when Julia saw a social media post that may have saved her life. A friend who works at Community Mercy Health Partners shared some information about a new mobile mammography van coming into town, funded by the Community Mercy Foundation. When Julia saw the post, she realized it had been nearly six years since her last mammogram. She called right away and scheduled an appointment.
When the van rolled into town, Julia was the first appointment on the first day. Her 3D mammography scans immediately detected breast cancer.
“I was completely shocked to get this diagnosis,” she said. “I was very healthy and we have no history of cancer in either side of my family, so I wasn’t sure what was going to happen to me. All I could think about was that I wanted to be around for my family."
Based on the results, Julia was able to quickly schedule the surgery and treatments she needed to save her life. She credits the donors who give to the Community Mercy Health Foundation to support mobile mammography as giving her the chance to enjoy more time with her loved ones.
“It’s a blessing that they had the foresight of knowing that people of all walks of life need this convenient service,” she said. “When I’m given a second chance like this, I plan to make the most of it. I’m very lucky. That van probably saved my life."
Mercy Health Foundation Clark & Champaign Counties welcomes your partnership as we work to extend the healing ministry of Jesus in the greater Springfield area. With your help, we can continue to make lives better — in mind, body, and spirit — through award-winning, compassionate, and quality healthcare. Through your generous donations, we help support not-for-profit programs and facilities of Community Mercy Health Partners, including hospitals, senior living facilities and community outreach programs.
Donate to Mercy Health Foundation of Clark & Champaign Counties