Debbie Carver has worked at the Huntsville Hospital Breast Center for almost 18 years. Every day, she helps women through the screening, diagnosis and care they need. Debbie is not just motivated by her patients, though. She is fueled by the memory of her mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 and passed away just 15 months later.

When Debbie reflects on her mother's battle with breast cancer, she is still bothered by the profound impact that finances had on her mom's ability to seek the timely care that she so desperately needed.

“She let it get so far advanced because she found herself in a situation between jobs with a gap in insurance coverage,” Debbie said. “She had to have gallbladder surgery and that big bill was not covered. So then, when she found a big lump in her breast, she did not go get it checked until it was way too advanced. She was a single parent in a dead-end job and she was struggling … so she neglected her health.”

To honor her mother’s memory, Debbie and her husband of 43 years, Ron, have chosen to leave a lasting legacy that will help future breast cancer patients who find themselves in similar circumstances. Their planned gift via joint trust will ensure we can continue to provide emergency financial assistance through HHF’s Breast Cancer Patient Assistance Fund. Our team signs checks every week that give women hope and reduce their barriers to care by covering mortgages, utilities, car payments and other essentials like groceries to get them through their darkest days, when many are unable to work.

“I have seen how much good it does for our patients. It hits really close to home for me,” Debbie shared. “Hopefully we can give some women here a sense of, ‘we’ve got this; we are here you’.”

For Debbie, the decision to include the hospital in her will was a natural way to honor her mother’s memory and make a lasting difference. By supporting future breast cancer patients, she is giving them the opportunity to access timely care, experience less financial fear, and have hope her mom never had.

“I feel like if there had been an organization like what we have, my mom would not have been as overwhelmed and would have taken care of herself. If she had known there was a way to cover the utilities, maybe she would have gone for that diagnosis sooner.”

Now, 38 years after her mom’s death, Debbie feels peace and joy in knowing her legacy will live on and help other women and families.

“It is an amazing feeling. I can hardly talk about it without crying, it is so dear to my heart. Ladies will know it is going to be OK. “

If you’re inspired by Debbie’s story and want to make a similar difference, we encourage you to consider how planned giving can help you leave a meaningful legacy. By giving through a planned gift, donors ensure their values and generosity extend beyond their lifetime, continuing to support causes they care about for years to come – providing hope, care and healing. Contact Lynne Berry at lynne.berry@hhsys.org to learn more.