Shimmering guests support St. Edward mammography program

 

story and photos by Linda Kaufenberg
[email protected]

A sold-out crowd of 320 attended the 43rd Annual St. Edward Mercy Medical Center’s Dinner Dance Shimmering Ice held at the Phoenix Expo Trade & Event Center. Proceeds from the Friday night event at will go toward purchasing a new mammography van, according to Jeri Moffett, president of St. Edward Auxiliary.

St. Edward has had a mammography van for 22 years when it was considered very innovative to take mammograms to women, according to Michelle Bonds, director of Mammography Imaging.

The van carries the equipment which is heavy so the usual life span of the vans is 5-7 years. The present van is more than 12 years old. The van travels out of the metro Fort smith area to 13 counties making three stops a week and serves approximately 1,600 women a year.

The new van will cost about $270.000. The Walker Foundation donated $150,000; $50,000 was donated by the hospital and Arvest Bank added $25,000.

"We are hoping the balance will be raised tonight at this event," said Jill Barrie, event chairman.

Joni Essman knows the importance of the mobile mammography van. Ten years ago she walked into the unit outside the hospital in Waldron for her annual mammogram. A few days later she received a letter saying she had an abnormal lump. That started a whirlwind of treatment that led to a lumpectomy, eight chemotherapy sessions and 33 radiation treatments.

"Thank God for the mammography van," Essman said. "I work full-time, you get busy and it just seems so hard to take a half day to go to Fort Smith for the screening. I was lucky I could just walk across the parking lot. I’m living proof that it pays to have it here and be convenient."