BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 1st November 2019)– As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the management of Cradles Nursery teamed up with Kare Nursing Agency to host a seminar and free screening for parents and teachers on the morning of Friday 25th October 2019 which was conducted at the nursery’s premises located in Dorset Village in Basseterre.
Presentation topics included warning signs, food and nutrition as well as at home check-ups involving self, partner/spouse and as a group health activity.
Following the information sharing, screenings via the lying down and sit up methods were done at a designated room at the nursery which saw more than 15 individuals taking part, both males and females.
Owner of Cradles Nursery Beverly Ible-Frederick, affectionately known as Teacher Bev, in speaking, with this reporter shared: “The topic of breast cancer awareness is so passionate to me because I lost my mom exactly, two years ago on this day-the 25th of October. It’s still hurting me to talk about it so I decided that after seeing mommy suffered so much to make sure nobody else suffer like that so I’ve decided to host a session.”
A pink “We Miss You” banner in tribute to her mom Bernadette Fyfield-Benjamin, in ‘Fight The Fight’ efforts, was displayed outside the nursery with the message: ‘Support Breast Cancer Awareness. Early Detection. Cure. Prevention.’
Owner of Kare Nursing Agency Keisha Rawlins, who is also a nurse on the surgical unit of the Joseph N. France General Hospital, highlighted: “I’m with the school already to help the children learn different techniques like hand washing and so forth but Teacher Bev asked me to come onboard because I actually was with her mom during the time when she had breast cancer; I was the one who did her dressings and since that she (Teacher Bev) wanted to take the initiative -as this is with breast cancer Awareness Month- to do something for the parents as well as the teachers of the school because this is the actual day that her mother died two years ago.”
She went on to explain the nature of her agency and spoke about the firsthand experiences she has had caring for breast cancer patients including Ible-Frederick’s mother.
“Kare Nursing Agency we are an in-home homecare provider for the elderly but we are still involved in any care at all so it doesn’t have to be the elderly and so that’s why we’re here to represent love and care and we’re because we want everybody to know that breast cancer is real; I’m a nurse and so I see it first hand; we have a lot of with amputation of the breasts and deaths. this month alone we had maybe four or five deaths from breast cancer and that’s just in hospital, and in the media you’ve seen that people are dying so we just want the parents both males and females- so yes fathers are included- to be included in today’s activities to know the importance of getting yourself checked because early detection saves lives.”
“Teacher Bev is very passionate about her mom. When her business started, her mom used to actually cook for the children so a lot of the children who have gone on to other schools actually dealt with her mom…that is her face right there on the banner; she was in the kitchen right inside the nursery (when that photo was taken). She was a big supporter of Cradles Nursery because she started it with her daughter…” nurse Keisha told the gathering during her opening remarks.
In touching on the hardship when it comes to the issue of the illness, she told: “It’s rough…Teacher Bev could tell you seeing her mom going through therapy overseas and coming back home… and she died at home peacefully.
This media house spoke with some of the attendees following the screening.
Kavel Desouza (Aunt of student)
It is good to have your breast checked for signs of early detection whatsoever. It is very beneficial and the information that was given today helped a lot because I learnt a few extra things that I didn’t know before so I would encourage anybody to have theirs checked…as it was said even the males do get breast cancer and children so it’s every important whether you do it yourself or have someone do it for you. I have a cousin that is a survivor from breast cancer and I have an aunt who is going through it-it is not breast cancer but it is cancer same way.
Geraldo Morton (father of student) speaking in the presence of his girlfriend Kanara Scarborough
Well it was motivational and inspirational. I was glad to be part of this. I will play an active role because it is important to keep healthy and always keep yourself in check.
Cherise Godwin (mother of student)
I learnt a lot and the presentations told a lot about breast cancer and to be careful what you eat and drink and so on; it was really interesting. I’ll be checking my breasts more often. I would encourage persons to monitor their breasts, get checked more often which is a step in preventing cancer from coming. My friend’s mother passed away from breast cancer and so I check on her almost every day.
Owner of Cradles Nursery Beverly ‘Teacher Bev’ Ible-Frederick (left) interacts with Kavel Desouza (Aunt of a student) after she (Desouza) had her screening done (Spokesman Snap)
Attendees listen closely to the information being shared by nurse Jessica Clavier (Spokesman Snap)