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Nov 16, 2009 7:23 pm US/Central
The Bridge Gives Breast Cancer Sufferers Free Help
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
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Dallas oncologist surgeon Dr. Sally Knox.
KTVT / KTXA
Ferris resident Shenette O'Neal had just gone part-time at work. She's sacrificing her health insurance to return to nursing school full-time. When she made the decision O'Neal didn't know a tumor was growing inside her.
The situation left the mother of three was asking an increasingly common question: "What does an uninsured woman do when she's diagnosed with breast cancer?" Thankfully, the 34-year-old turned to
The Bridge Breast Network.
"They called me," explained O'Neal. "They said, 'This is step one. You need to go here. We need to get you a surgeon. Now you need an oncologist.' They had it all planned out and they just lead you."
Terry Wilson-Gray is the director of the Dallas-based Bridge Breast Network, which provides free care to uninsured or underinsured women with a lump or with a breast cancer diagnosis.
"We provide them with the treatment, the diagnostic services. We're here to hold their hand across The Bridge," said Wilson-Gray.
Wilson-Gray says knows how it feels to be in O'Neal's shoes. "Twenty-two years ago I was without insurance and someone told me, 'You have cancer.' So there I was in the same boat," recalled Wilson-Gray. "So look at me now. And 22 years later I know why -- so I can be right here at this place to help somebody else."
The need for
The Bridge Breast Network's services has grown tremendously. Five years ago, it was serving 30 malignant patients across North Texas. Today, there are five full-time employees and numerous volunteers caring for 200 people.
"They didn't see a dollar figure," O'Neal said with her eyes filled with tears. "They seen a life."
Dallas oncologist surgeon Dr. Sally Knox founded the non-profit network, after realizing that donating her services to needy patients wasn't enough. "Everyone in that operating room who's a part of that surgery is donating their time," said Dr. Knox. "We need hospital rooms, nurses, x-rays, anesthesiologists, an entire team to help a patient beat breast cancer. To take care of cancer patient you're talking all kinds of expenses that I had no control over."
Knox went to a group of North Texas female professionals, who battled breast cancer themselves, and shared her vision. The lawyers, accountants, journalists and business professionals ran with the idea, creating The Bridge Breast Network as its known today.
Dr. Knox continues to recruit hospitals and imaging centers to join her team. So far, 39 North Texas physicians are officially partners with The Bridge. "The physicians come with that compassion," explained Bridge director Wilson-Gray. "And they want to help people with no insurance. Dr. Knox is a visionary for this program."
"There's nothing like knowing you really helped somebody," said Knox.
Patient Shenette O'Neal, who says she plans to become an oncology nurse when she graduates nursing school, says there's nothing like knowing somebody really cares. "It's love." O'Neal said tearfully. "It's what it is. It's actual love."
The Board of Directors at The Bridge Breast Network just approved five years of follow-up care for all of their breast cancer patients.
Check out The Bridge website if you need help, know someone who does, or would like to help The Bridge help others.
The Bridge Breast Network is located at 3600 Gaston Ave # 401, Dallas, Texas 75246-1804 and can be reached by phone at (214) 821-3820.
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