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by Lourdes Sanchez
Since 2016, Remedios and her mother, Maria, have found care and comfort through Ravenswood Family Health Network. Both women share a special bond with Dylan, a Family Nurse Practitioner, who provides primary care at our MayView clinic in Mountain View. As a provider, she enjoys seeing multiple members of the same family. She says, “I feel that I get to know them better and I’m able to gather a better understanding of their health by seeing the bigger picture.” Over the past few years, she has played a central role in the routine care of both Remedios and Maria, guiding them through their health journeys.
Ravenswood Family Health Network is a federally qualified health center headquartered in the low-income East Palo Alto area of San Mateo County. It operates facilities Ravenswood Family Health Center at 1885 Bay Road in East Palo Alto; Ravenswood Family Dentistry, 1807 Bay Road in East Palo Alto; MayView Sunnyvale Clinic, 785 Morse Ave. in Sunnyvale; MayView Mountain View Clinic, 900 Miramonte Ave., 2nd Floor, Mountain View; and MayView Palo Alto Clinic, 270 Grant Ave. in Palo Alto.
Remedios’ battle with breast cancer
Remedios had a life-altering experience at the start of 2023 when a routine mammogram at Ravenswood revealed an abnormal finding. A Ravenswood gynecologist reviewed the mammogram results with her and referred her to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (VMC) for a mastectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the malignant tissue from her breasts.
Dylan followed up with Remedios to help navigate the overwhelming diagnosis and prepare her for the next steps of the mastectomy. Understanding Remedios’ family medical history, Dylan also ordered additional testing, including one that revealed she carried the BRCA2 gene. This gene can increase the risk of cancer, including breast cancer. Dylan explained the risks associated with the BRCA2 gene, and helped alleviate her anxiety with reassuring answers to her questions.
When meeting with the plastic surgeon from VMC, Remedios made the difficult decision to undergo a bilateral mastectomy. By the end of March 2023, her surgery was complete and it was a success. During her recovery, Dylan was there to address any concerns. When Remedios experienced abdominal pain following the procedure, Dylan recommended she manage the pain with ibuprofen and to stay diligent about her post-operative care.
Today, Remedios feels blessed to have overcome her battle with breast cancer and is happy to be with her family. She’s grateful for the support of Dylan and her care team.
Maria’s routine care
Remedios’ mother, Maria, continued her own health journey under Dylan’s care. Every year, Maria meets with Dylan for an annual health exam and discusses all health matters, including exercise and dietary counseling, addressing health concerns, and managing chronic diseases. Together, they monitor her hemoglobin levels through regular lab work, ensuring her health stays on course.
A year ago, Maria was given the option to have a test for latent pulmonary tuberculosis, an infectious disease that affects the lungs and can be common in people who come from parts of Central and South America. After explaining the purpose of the exam, Dylan empowered Maria to make her own choice. “I like being given options for my health. It is, after all, my care,” said Maria, and she chose to proceed with the test. She tested positive for latent tuberculosis and underwent three months of treatment under Dylan’s medical guidance. Maria finished her treatment and was proud to have made that decision for her health, resulting in healthier lungs.
Dylan supported Remedios and Maria through the health challenges they faced and continues to be a source of light for them in their care. You can be a source of light for patients like Remedios and Maria by giving the gift of health this coming season.
Ravenswood Family Health Network is one of the beneficiaries of The Almanac’s Holiday Fund. Donations are divided equally among this year’s 10 nonprofit organizations and 100% of the funds raised go directly to the recipients. Donations to the Holiday Fund can be made at almanacnews.com/holiday_fund.
Lourdes Sanchez is a fundraising and marketing supervisor for Ravenswood Family Health Network.
