“You have breast cancer” are words a woman never wants to hear. In the United States, 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year with a more sobering statistic that nearly 40,000 women will die this year from the disease. With those staggering statistics in mind, three Washington County women will participate in the 60 mile, Susan G. Komen “3-Day For A Cure Walk” in Phoenix, Arizona Nov. 12-14.

Erin Kuhn of Okawville, Jennifer Allman of Addieville and Tabitha Lane of Nashville are busy training and raising funds for the event. When asked how they became involved with the program, Jennifer, team captain, stated, “The sister-in-law of a woman who works with my husband Mark was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and she told me about the walk.”

Jennifer, a radiology tech at Washington County Hospital told her fellow co-worker, Erin also a radiology tech about the walk. Tabitha, a LPN and Rural Health Clinic supervisor at the hospital heard about the walk from them and a team was formed.

The team has been affected by breast cancer in various ways. They have had relatives, friends and patients diagnosed with it. “Jennifer and I do mammograms at Washington County Hospital and see the disease first hand,” stated Erin. Tabitha sees patients in the Rural Health Clinic who also have been diagnosed with the disease.

The team named “Boobie Stars” will have to raise $2,300.00 per person to attend the event. They also have to pay a $90.00 per person registration fee, airfare and accommodations. At the walk, they will stay in a 6.5 foot by 6.5 foot pink tent. Pink is the signified color of breast cancer.

The girls are currently training for the event with the Susan G. Komen “3-Day For A Cure” training booklet. Walk organizers advise participants to prepare for the 60 mile walk by walking in different weather conditions and walking terrains. Walkers are strongly urged to keep hydrated, listen to their body if fatigued and take one day a week off from training.

To help raise funds for the walk, a variety of events are being planned. A bake sale will be held Saturday, July 31 from 8 a.m. until all items are gone at Lee’s Variety Store in Nashville; Saturday, Sept. 11 a “Poker Run” will be held at 127 Lounge in Nashville with registration beginning at 10 a.m. In October a Trivia Night will be held Oct. 2nd at the Nashville Moose Lodge and “Crazy Bowl” will be held Oct. 9th at Mascoutah Community Lanes at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. There will also be a 50/50 raffle and a quilt raffle held in conjunction with several of the events. Breast cancer bracelets and other items will also be sold by the team.

Washington County Hospital & Rural Health Clinic will host a CPR Class Monday, Aug. 2 at 6 p.m. in conference rooms A & B in the lower level of the hospital. The class will be geared toward healthcare providers, nursing and radiology students, RN’s, LPN’s, physicians, etc.

Instruction will be CPR in adults, children and infants; foreign body airway obstruction in adults, children and infants and AED. Cost for the class is $15.00 per person.

SKILLED NURSING SERVICES AT WCH

Washington County Hospital & Rural Health Clinic offers “Back On Track” Skilled Nursing Care Services. The WCH experienced and caring therapy and nursing staff are on board to help in the patient’s recovery.

WCH offers physical, occupational and speech therapy, case management and skilled nursing beds. It’s therapy with a team approach. The skilled care unit at Washington County Hospital offers high quality therapy in a comfortable and local atmosphere. The therapy team, under physicians’ orders, carries out a plan of care on the individual patient’s needs, goals and discharge plans.

Patients, along with family members, physicians, nurses, physical, occupational and speech therapists all work toward improving the patient’s quality of life following a decline in functional independence from illness or surgery. Other services available include cardiac rehabilitation, respiratory care, leisure activities, dietary and pharmacy services, weekly care conferences, wound care, 24 hour skilled nursing care, flexible admission and onsite physician visits and pastoral care. Laundry and beauty/barber services are also available.