For many mothers and daughters, the bond they share is defined by milestones and memories. For Caitlyn P. and her mother, LeAnne C., a shared medical journey at three Ascension Sacred Heart sites of care – Gulf, Bay and Emerald Coast - where coordinated care teams guided them from their first consultation to final follow-up.
As Caitlyn sat for her final follow-up appointment, closing a long chapter of proactive care, her mother, LeAnne, was down the hall for her first consultation. Caitlyn didn't skip a beat, stepping straight from her own recovery into a new role as her mother's guide.
Caitlyn's journey began when her OB-GYN recommended genetic testing after some on-going health issues. Results revealed a gene mutation, a high-risk indicator for breast cancer. He referred her to Dr. Alison Moody, a breast surgeon at Ascension Sacred Heart Bay.
"Dr. Moody sat down with a plan," Caitlin said. "She charted out the risks, our options and the steps we needed to take. She made sure I was informed."
After two years of monitoring, Caitlin decided to have a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction. She chose a Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap procedure, which uses a patient's own tissue rather than implants for a more natural result. She worked with Dr. Hugo St. Hilaire and Dr. Suma Maddox, plastic and reconstructive surgeons at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast.
"I tell people to find good doctors who advocate for you," Caitlin said. "They handled the insurance and the tests. It was a streamlined process."
When LeAnne’s annual mammogram later detected an issue, she was referred to Sacred Heart Gulf Women’s Diagnostic Center. There she had her diagnostic mammogram and later a biopsy with Dr. Kunal Jani, interventional radiologist and Chief Medical Officer for Sacred Heart Bay and Gulf.
A few days later she got the results, LeAnne was told she had caught her breast cancer early. Because Caitlin had already navigated the process, she had the robes and recovery supplies ready for her mother.
"She paved the way for me to have a smooth procedure," LeAnne said. "As soon as I got the result, the referral went to Dr. Moody. I saw her within a week."
Dr. Moody provided the same personalized attention to LeAnne.
"Dr. Moody called me herself," LeAnne noted. "Even right after the surgery, I expected a call from a nurse, but it was her. She asked how I was doing and how the healing was going. She kept herself involved."
When it came time for her reconstruction, LeAnne also saw Dr. St. Hilaire and Dr. Maddox, having that procedure at Sacred Heart Emerald Coast. She will have her final surgery, a revision which is a common part of the process, soon.
Mother's Day falls on May 10 this year, and for Caitlyn, it carries new meaning. The daughter who was cared for became the caregiver, guiding LeAnne through the same journey she had completed. The duo marked the occasion with a trip to Disney World thanks to the care they received from Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf, Bay and Emerald Coast.
"Breast cancer is a scary thing, but it was so much less frightening to know what to expect," LeAnne said. "It was a good experience to be able to share that journey with my daughter."
May is women’s health month and Ascension Sacred Heart is encouraging women to take the time for themselves to catch up on important screenings like mammograms. To remove barriers to access, there is also a new program that offers screenings at no cost for women 40 and older who are uninsured. To schedule a breast health screening visit ascension.org/SacredHeartMammogram.
.png)