Cancer Survivor Thankful For Donated Medical Care

She was just a young woman, still in her early 30s with life goals and aspirations, working at a temporary position with promises of full-time employment. She had no medical insurance.

Then, one day, she found a lump. A fear for any woman, but especially uncommon for someone so young. Donna’s struggle with breast cancer begins here.

Devastating Discovery

“When I found a lump, I thought, ‘No way, I’m only 34 years old! This can’t be!’” recalls Donna.

At the time, she wasn’t too concerned. “I’d read that about 80 percent of lumps were benign,” says Donna.

But after visiting a physician, Donna was referred to a surgeon for a biopsy to determine the status of this mysterious lump.

The biopsy established that she did have breast cancer. She began to wonder how she was going to get through this. Luckily, her surgeon was involved with a program called Project Access.

Funded in part by United Way of the Plains, Project Access coordinates donated medical care and services for uninsured, low-income residents of Sedgwick County. Program funding covers administrative expenses of coordinating donated services from local physicians, hospitals and pharmacies.

Working with Project Access, nearly 72 percent of the area’s physicians have donated their services for up to 20 patients each. In addition, all area hospitals donate inpatient and outpatient care for Project Access clients and 69 pharmacies fill prescriptions at less than wholesale cost.

“I would have had a ton more worries on top of having the cancer,” Donna says. “Like all the bills and possibly having to file bankruptcy.”

Donna estimates that Project Access helped her with more than $200,000 worth of donated services (such as surgeries, chemotherapy and other treatments) since her diagnosis. But more than that, the program guided her back to health.

Gold at the End of the Rainbow

“I’m what they call a ‘cancer survivor,’” Donna says. “I am officially through with treatments.”

The side effects of chemotherapy are just now beginning to subside. Donna still relies on Project Access for regular checkups with her oncologist.

“There are a lot of people that couldn’t be helped by the treatments I’ve been through,” she says. “Despite it all, I feel very lucky.”

Donna now enjoys the simpler things in life and makes the most of every day. The support of friends, family and Project Access helped her become a survivor.

“That’s not to say it’s not difficult,” Donna adds. “I just live by the philosophy that everyone has the choice of sitting and saying, ‘Woe is me!’ or getting over hardships and saying, ‘How can I make the best of it?’”

Call United Way of the Plains at 267-1321 to find out more about how your money is helping our community.

United Way-Funded Programs That Care

United Way of the Plains is committed to focusing on the issues that the community cares about most.

Project Access is a community-based program that coordinates donated medical care and services provided by physicians, pharmacies, hospitals and others. A broad range of services is provided by Project Access for uninsured, low-income residents of Sedgwick County.

Fostering Health and Independence is one of five pressing community issues United Way-funded programs address to meet multiple needs in this community.