Adventist Health Bakersfield | You + Us | Winter 2020

YOU + US : Together i nsp i red ® Healthcare for the whole family When Karla Ovando-Hernandez started her medical journey with Adventist Health Bakersfield in May 2019, it took her—and her family— places they couldn’t have imagined. For Karla, it all started with a free breast screening at the Adventist Health AIS Cancer Center. She’d put off her mammogram—and even hesitated about going to the screening event last spring—but thank goodness she listened to her inner voice. “I am so happy that this event was available. I believe it saved my life,” says the 43-year-old wife and mother. “My mammogram came back negative, but it said that I had dense breast tissue. So the AIS Cancer Center referred me to get an ultrasound at Adventist Health Quest Made for more family time Inspiring Wholeness Imaging, where they found a mass.” Karla underwent a biopsy and MRI, which confirmed she had stage 1 breast cancer. “I am so lucky they caught my cancer early,” says Karla, who has since had a double mastectomy performed by Adventist Health breast surgeon Connie Lee, MD. Branching out Since that first day, Karla’s roots with Adventist Health Bakersfield have only grown deeper. She received additional care from oncologist Ricardo Salas, MD, and Jacqueline Engstrand, BS, RN, OCN, CN-BC, a nurse navigator with the Adventist Health Breast Center. Now she also sees Ingy Ayad, MD, with Adventist Health Physicians Network as her primary care doctor. In fact, Adventist Health plays a significant role for Karla’s family as well. Her husband, José Hernandez, 42, regularly attends the free community health lectures hosted by the hospital. “I like going to the events where real doctors talk about our health,” José says. “It YOU + US is printed quarterly (issue 4 of 4) by Adventist Health Bakersfield, 2615 Chester Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93301-2014. Information in YOU + US comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your healthcare provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. Questions or comments? Email adamotd@ah.org. 2020 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Sharlet Briggs President | Teresa Adamo Editor and Writer | Megan Simpson Writer | Harold Pierce Writer | Felix Adamo Cover Photographer | Jennifer Williams-Cordova Photographer