OGH Hosts Pink Event
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
Pink reigned as the pervasive color featured inside the Evangeline Downs Events Center ballroom on Friday, as Opelousas General Health Systems hosted its annual Breast Cancer Awareness event before a capacity audience.
Guest speaker Megan Begnaud related her emotional journey from the initial stages of breast cancer, through treatment, remission and breast cancer advocacy, while OGHS CEO Lance Armentor provided details about the current funding effort of the hospital to increase the number of mammograms.
Armentor also announced an OGH funding campaign that intends to obtain revenue for a tomography and mammography unit with upright biopsy capabilities.
Highlighting the afternoon was the annual women’s fashion show that included adult models who walked through the aisles, celebrating their separation from cancer.
OGH promoted their breast cancer “Paint The Town Pink” initiative with interactive events that included awareness-related competitions that involved the commercial and educational communities.
A Young Woman’s Cancer
Begnaud told the 425 persons in attendance that she was shocked several years ago, when he was diagnosed with breast cancer at 29.
“I didn’t know any peers who were going through (breast cancer). There were no young support groups. I didn’t know how to tell my family,” Begnaud admitted during an emotional presentation.
The effects of her cancer, Begnaud said, began to take effect with her chemo and radiation treatments and scarring. Things became especially devastating when Christie, her close friend, died.
“I was bald, sick and angry at the world. I felt like giving up,” Begnaud said.
The healing process for her, Begnaud said, began when she became associated with members of a youth survivor community.
“I began to slow down and breathe again. My cancer turned into a calling, which allows me to help others heal,” Begnaud said.
Mammography Innovations
OGH, said Armentor, has established the Friends of Rita Buller Keller Capital Campaign, which will enable the hospital to obtain the estimated $750,000 in funding for mammography screening, diagnostics and biopsies at one location.
While OGH has introduced no-cost mammography, the hospital, Armentor said, is now overwhelmed with the number of procedures associated with screening.
Sometimes it takes six to eight weeks to undergo the completed mammogram process. Acquiring a new machine, said Armentor, will probably reduce that rate to approximately one week.
Since the announcement of the funding initiative, Armentor said OGHS has already received a $10,000 contribution.
