One day, Daisy Nesmith discovered a lump in her breast. A busy grandmother of six, her days were filled by family and at her church in Kingstree. Still, she found time to get it checked out.

This would begin a journey she never wanted to take.

Following a biopsy, Daisy learned that she did, in fact, have breast cancer. She was devastated.

“I cried,” Daisy reflected. “But after drying my tears, I ripped a sheet of paper out of my journal and wrote: ‘God, I am going to beat this.’”

She placed the scrap of paper between the pages of her Bible as a reminder to keep pressing forward. Towards the end of her treatment, Daisy began having fluid build-up and swelling in her arms. She had begun experiencing a painful symptom many cancer patients face: lymphedema.

Oncologist Dr. Rajesh Bajaj, along with Daisy’s surgeon, Dr. Amy Murrell, suggested that she purchase a lymphedema sleeve. Made of a tight, stretchy material, a compression sleeve would allow the blood flow to increase in her arm.

While necessary, the sleeve was costly and not covered by Daisy’s insurance.

With her limited personal resources, Daisy asked a friend to purchase the first sleeve. Her swelling and pain reduced dramatically, but these sleeves must be replaced every three to six months to remain effective. Daisy knew this would be impossible to afford on her own.

She humbly sought out Sarah Beth Averette, the McLeod HOPE Coordinator, to ask for help. Because of your generous support, Sarah Beth immediately ordered a new sleeve and a second one for Daisy’s other arm, too.

“I was relieved and so very grateful,” Daisy said. “I saw that I was not alone and was given what I really needed.”

HOPE Fund donors like you make it possible for our patients to receive the supplies they need to heal, regardless of their ability to pay. Just as importantly, you show Daisy and so many others that they are not alone on their cancer journey.

Image shown above: Dr. Rajesh Bajaj is pictured with Daisy Nesmith, who is grateful to HOPE Fund donors for providing her with lymphedema sleeves to help alleviate her painful cancer symptoms.

When Sarah Duby, Associate Vice President at Assurant, moved to Florence four years ago, she had no clue she would come to rely on the McLeod Cancer Center.

When the COVID-19 Pandemic began, Sarah focused on improving her health and started running. As she began to lose weight, she noticed a lump in her breast.
Her first reaction was that it was nothing to worry about. However, when she met with her Family Nurse Practitioner Allison Slice, she was immediately sent to the McLeod Breast Health Center for a mammogram which led to a biopsy.

The biopsy revealed a diagnosis of Stage IIB breast cancer.

Like anyone who hears those words, Sarah was frightened.

She learned the true value of excellent healthcare in the days following her diagnosis. Sarah was seen at once by McLeod Surgeon Dr. Amy Murrell, who helped relieve her fears.

She was then referred to McLeod Oncologist Dr. Ravneet Bajwa, who offered guidance and encouragement. She would come to appreciate that both physicians were fully invested in her cancer journey from beginning to end.

“Your health is always going to be a factor in life at some point, but it’s not until you face a medical crisis that you realize the true value of good health care,” Sarah explained.

Sarah’s employer, Assurant, through its Assurant Foundation, is a long-time supporter of the McLeod Health Foundation and the McLeod Mobile Mammography Unit.

Since 2009, Assurant employees and the community have benefitted from easy access to this life-saving screening due to regular mobile unit visits to their office.

“It makes perfect sense for Assurant to support the McLeod Mobile Mammography Unit,” Sarah commented. “We believe in investing in the health of our employees and our community.”

Sarah feels her healthcare team is like her family. She is grateful that Assurant and other donors to the McLeod Foundation value the excellent health care she has benefitted from in her new hometown.

When the HOPE (Helping Oncology Patients Everyday) Fund was established in 2014, the two found a ideal match for their philanthropy. The HOPE Fund assists patients who face financial struggles that often accompany a cancer diagnosis.

Each day, Dr. Bajaj looks into the eyes of patients who carry weighty financial worries. He sees fear and concern over how they will afford their pain and nausea medications or pay this month’s rent. He eases their anxiety by telling them the HOPE Fund is there to help.

“I could see my own patients being impacted by the HOPE Fund right away,” he shared.

In 2017, recognizing the critical nature of services provided by donor gifts, the McLeod Foundation established the HOPE Fund Endowment.

The HOPE Fund Endowment ensures that if regular funding were ever interrupted, proceeds generated by the endowment could still provide for the most crucial services.

Upon learning of this new opportunity, Dr. Bajaj and Dr. Chaudhry committed to designate their own gifts to the HOPE Fund Endowment.

“I cannot do my job unless we care for the entire person,” Dr. Bajaj explained. “It goes beyond the cancer diagnosis to all the ways a patient’s life is impacted, such as issues obtaining medication, paying certain bills and even dealing with transportation problems. If the patient cannot get here for their care, we are unable to treat them.”

Dr. Bajaj and Dr. Chaudhry are confident that by supporting and championing the HOPE Fund Endowment, they are ensuring hope for cancer patients in their time of need — for many, many years to come.

Amy diligently received regular mammograms beginning when she was 30 years old due to her family’s history with cancer. Sadly, she lost her beloved mother to breast cancer after a long battle.

Seven years ago, during a routine annual exam, Amy received the news she had feared the most. At age 45, she would begin her own frightening journey with breast cancer.

Amy immediately began a very aggressive treatment, which she completed in November 2020.

“You have to be aware because it can happen at any age,” Amy said.

Amy’s mother had been diagnosed four times with breast cancer, but none were detected early enough to save her life. Amy and her family are grateful for the regular screenings that allowed Amy’s cancer to be detected before it spread.

“This is part of my personal journey,” Amy passionately shared. “How can I not give back?”

This past October, in honor of breast cancer awareness month, Jeff and Amy hosted the first “Dine Out for Breast Cancer.” This month-long event at the couple’s restaurants, Midtown Bistro and Bar 19 Twelve, raised funds to support breast cancer services at McLeod Health Loris Seacoast.

“In spite of COVID-19 restrictions, the event was very successful, raising $30,000 in 30 days,” Jeff explained.

Amy and Jeff both admire the small-town appeal of North Myrtle Beach with its “big city atmosphere where everybody sticks together.” This was evident in the amazing results of this special event.

Following the success of the inaugural “Dine Out for Breast Cancer,” Amy and Jeff have committed to host the event annually. They know they can help increase awareness of preventative care by raising funds to support cancer services at McLeod Health Loris Seacoast.

By supporting “Dine Out for Breast Cancer,” individuals from all over the Grand Strand will help raise funds for cancer patients and their families.