By Kaitlin Candelaria Homewood resident Mary Michael Kelley never knew about the need for a milk bank in Alabama until her own personal tragedy brought the issue to the forefront. After losing one child shortly after birth and almost losing another, Kelley was more than aware not only that there were infants who needed milk, but also that there were mothers who needed or … [Read more...]
Fight Like a Girl: Ginny Bourland Spreads the Word About Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
By Emily Williams Ginny Bourland wasn’t sure about sharing her cancer battle with a support group at first. Shortly after the Vestavia Hills resident was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer in 2011, at the age of 37, a member of the Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation emailed her and invited her to attend a support group for women in similar conditions. “I … [Read more...]
Spreading the Word
By Kaitlin Candelaria Jefferson County Commissioner Sandra Little Brown is the only woman among 29 men involved in the Real Mean Wear Pink campaign. As the female face of the American Cancer Society’s campaign and a cancer survivor herself, Brown said awareness and early detection are the most important things she wants to emphasize to the community. “I made up my mind that … [Read more...]
Honor My Mother
By Kaitlin Candelaria Matt Condra lost his mother 20 years ago in November to breast cancer. He was a senior in high school at the time and had to move in with a friend while his mother traveled between New York and Texas to receive treatment before she passed away. “I thought this would be a good opportunity to honor my mother and all the other women who have fought breast … [Read more...]
Family Ties: Chef’s Bond with His Mom Makes Him Think Pink
By Donna Cornelius When Chris Hastings says he was tied to his mother’s apron strings, he means that in the most positive way. “My mom and I were very close,” said Hastings, the chef and owner of Birmingham’s Hot and Hot Fish Club. “We were always hanging out in the kitchen and at dinnertime.” Food always played a big part in the relationship he and his mother, Angelica … [Read more...]