Entrepreneur and business owner, Teresa Moore, was a recent guest at our hospitality house for several weeks while she received radiation treatments for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a noninvasive form of breast cancer.  Teresa hails from Sneads Ferry near Jacksonville, North Carolina. When not at the hospital, she could often be found with her daughter, Isabella, in the Pine living room, working away on her many creative projects. 

While Teresa is ever grateful for the excellent medical care she's received at UNC Hospitals, giving high praise to Dr. Philip Spainheimer, surgeon, Susan McKenney, PA, Dr. Dana Casey, radiation oncologist, and several technicians, we learned that was her get-it-done attitude and being pro-active with her own health that’s helped to bring her to many positive outcomes.

Asked how her stay had been at Family House, Teresa was effusive in her response. She shared that being at Family House has helped with her mental health. When you’re going through cancer you can get easily "depressed."  She feels that it has helped her a lot to be around "other people who are feeling the same way you're feeling. You're sharing your everyday life with them. They understand. It makes you want to get up and get dressed. Your family can be supportive, but it's not the same as knowing people here who feel the same way as you.

Soon after Teresa rang the bell after her last treatment, she reiterated to us again that she and her daughter want to return to Family House to volunteer because she experienced firsthand what a "difference” we make for other people." We look forward to visiting with her when she’s here for her next follow-up appointment.