MARY BIRD PERKINS CANCER CENTER 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

In 1971, the nearest choices for radiation treatment for

cancer patients in southeast Louisiana were in Texas or

Alabama. They could not stay home and get radiation

therapy. The community changed that.

In 1968 the Foundation held a capital campaign that was

capped by a major gift from philanthropist Paul D. Perkins

whose daughter, Mary Bird, was recently deceased. The

Foundation board expressed its gratitude by naming the

Center after her.

Mrs. Anna Lipsey, then chairwoman of the Cancer Society

of Greater Baton Rouge, was contacted by physicians who

wanted to create a community-owned radiation therapy

center in Baton Rouge. Mrs. Lipsey asked Dr. M.J. "Jack"

Rathbone Jr., chairman of the East Baton Rouge Parish

Medical Society Cancer Committee, for help reaching this

goal. Together they formed the Cancer, Radiation and

Research Foundation.

From the outset, Mary Bird Perkins was created to be

available to all community members in need of its services

- regardless of ability to pay. This charge has remained

near and dear to the Center's mission.

1, MARY BIRD PERKrNs'" CANCER CENTER

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Mary Bird Perkins

Mary Bird Perkins Radiation Treatment Center opened its

doors in Baton Rouge in 1971, in Hammond in 1988 and in

Covington in 1998.

Today, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has two integrated

cancer programs accredited by the American College

of Surgeons, one with Our Lady of the Lake Regional

Medical Center in Baton Rouge and one with St. Tammany

Parish Hospital in Covington. Together with our partners,

the Center is able to coordinate the entire continuum of

cancer care. Mary Bird Perkins also enjoys a long-standing

relationship with North Oaks Hospital in Hammond.

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center celebrated its

35th anniversary in 2006. On the pages that

follow you will read about some of the people

who have been helped by the Center's mission.

Fighting Cancer for Over 35 Years.

Gwen is one of the many cancerpatients successfully treated at theCenter over its 3S-year history.

"I hope talking about myPOSITIVE EXPERIENCE willhelp someone else get throughBREAST CANCER treatment."

Gwen Hamilton

Cancer Survivor

A YOUNG MOTHER'S SURVIVOR SPIRIT

/IId!im;1k~;rf:dfJnLake Charles native Marielle Howard is a survivor. "I was raised poor.We didn't have health insurance, we had health care. That meant weonly saw a doctor when we had to," she said. After graduating from LSDwhere she met her husband David, Howard became highly focused oncareer and motherhood. "I knew I wanted to be like the other womenin my family - strong and independent. I believed there was nothing Icouldn't handle thanks to their example."

While success at her career came easy enough, motherhood frustratinglyeluded her for four years before son Hunter was born in June of 2002.Then, two years later, Howard was diagnosed with stage IV B-cell non­Hodgkin's lymphoma. What started out as a sore throat had, in fiveweeks, turned into a baseball size tumor requiring emergency surgery tosave Howard's life. She had been suffocating without realizing it.

Because the surgeons had been unable to remove the tumor completelyand because they did not know if any cells had migrated to other parts ofthe body, chemotherapy and radiation were both added to her treatmentplan. Howard said her surgeon told her, "You will go through Hell, butyou can fight it," a challenge she was willing to take on. "I am blessed,"she said. "I prayed for a baby for four years. When all this happened, Ijust prayed for more time to raise him and be with him so he could cometo know his mom."

Howard is convincedthat being able to stayhome in Baton Rougewhile battling her cancerhelped her win thefight. ~~If you take me toHouston and I have toleave my child, my job,my family - I'm leavingmy reasons for living.They're all right here.They are what's going tohelp me beat this."

4 MARY BIRD PERKINS CANCER CENTER

Howard's radiation oncologist at Mary Bird Perkinswas Dr. Maurice King. "Dr. King was wonderful,"said Howard. "He didn't baby me. I wanted toknow every detail. The therapists and technicianswere great that way too. They all dealt with meat my worst, but they stuck by me every step ofthe way." Dr. King said he knew from their firstencounter that he was dealing with a strong anddetermined woman. "Marielle understood clearlythe challenge confronting her and she met it withcourage, dignity and - I must say - a sense ofhumor. Her positive attitude contributed much toher successful outcome."

An unforeseen change in her husband's employmentstatus led Howard to enroll her family on heremployer's medical plan. The coverage went intoeffect only six days before Howard was diagnosedwith cancer. "I was virtually six days away frombeing a part of the population without insurance,"Howard said, "but I know the people at Mary Birdwho worked to save me would have worked justas hard if I hadn't had insurance. That's the partthat really sticks with me because I've had theexperience of being on the other side."

Howard explained that technically she is inremission, however she said she feels cured."I went from stage IV to no sign of the diseaseanywhere in my body in seven months." She callssuch care superhuman. "I got to see it firsthand. Itwasn't just about going through the motions withdoctors and co-pays and treatment. The staff at

Like Howard, Sarah Romero beganvolunteering at Mary Bird PerkinsCancer Center after her treatment.

"We asked MY DOCTORat M. D. Anderson aboutradiation. He recommendedMARY BIRD."

Sarah Romero

Cancer Survivor

Mary Bird cared for me in every way they could."That is why Howard said she volunteers her timehelping to promote the Center's major fundraisingevents. "The whole point of our existence is to helpothers. If you can't afford to give money, you canstill give time. Mary Bird has so many supportersand I am grateful for them all. Simply put, theyhelp people fight cancer and provide the servicesthey need to get them through the battle." Howardgave even more of her time by participating in apatient testimonial campaign for the Center. Alsotaking part was her young son, who was given aspecial Mary Bird tee shirt for being in his mother'stelevision segment. Hunter was so proud of theshirt, said Howard, that he wanted to wear it for hisphoto with Santa Claus. "Me and Mommy made acommercial so people would know what happenedto her and no one else would have to get cancer,"he told Santa.

Howard is grateful for the care she received at MaryBird Perkins and for being able to get back to herbusy and full life. "If you wake up with cancer,these are the people you want taking care of you. Ican never thank them enough." And then, throughtears, "I could not have been treated better, curedfaster or given my life back more wholly anywhereelse in the world and still be able to go to work,raise my son and be with my husband while battlingcancer. It just doesn't get any better than that."

Son Hunter turned four last June.l