Michelle Clinger, 48, of Tiffin, “wears that badge” with so much pride that she cannot wait to share her experience and spread the word about how she believes a routine mammogram saved her life.
Local and area residents will have the opportunity to meet Michelle and hear her story on two separate occasions: Thursday, Oct. 20 at Fremont Memorial Hospital, 715 S. Taft St., Fremont, and Thursday, Oct. 27 at The Bellevue Hospital (TBH), 1400 W. Main St., Bellevue. In addition to the two hospitals, the Sandusky County Cancer Coalition is sponsoring Clinger’s visit.
Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 in Fremont at the Memorial Hospital Chestnut Café, with the program to follow at 6 p.m. On Oct. 27 in The Bellevue Hospital’s Conference Rooms A&B, dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. with the program to follow at 6 p.m.
Both programs are free and open to the public. Michael Griliis, D.O., chairman of the Memorial Hospital Cancer Committee will emcee the Fremont event, while at the Bellevue event, Steven Zieber M.D., a Radiologist on staff at TBH, will make a presentation.
“Although my mom passed away in 1984 after complications from leukemia, there was no history of breast cancer in our family,” said Clinger, who was diagnosed with her disease in 2008 at the age of 45. “I was told by one medical professional that if I would have blown off my mammogram that year, I would have potentially faced a whole different outcome than what she thought I was going to achieve due to the fact that I had obtained my mammogram.”
Instead, Clinger’s lump was discovered soon enough to allow her today to enjoy a normal life as a wife and mother of two. “I really believe that I would not be here right now if I had delayed getting my mammogram. Women do not need to be afraid of getting checked. I believe you can fare well and survive with today’s treatment options. I had the mastectomy and chemo and I survived and this is my message. I never even missed a day of work while going through my chemotherapy treatment.”
Reservations are required and space is limited to 50 people per program. For the Oct. 20 Fremont event, phone 419.334.6613. For the Oct. 27 Bellevue program phone the hospital’s Centralized Scheduling Department at 419.483.4040, Ext. 4326.