Jifi Jacob and Elizabeth Denis
My name is Elizabeth Denis. I am the activity director from Collinsville Health Care. I was hired in on June 30, 2008. The end of November of this year I was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer. On December 9, 2010 I plan to have a double mastectomy.
I hopes for a successful recovery wouldn’t have taken place with out the encouragement of my administrator Jifi Jacob. I approached Jifi to inform him what was happening and asked him if he wanted me to step down in my position. As after the surgery I will need radiation and chemotherapy. After many tears Jifi stated, “absolutely not.” We are family here and you are part of this family and we will fight the breast cancer together.
Jifi has printed me multiple pieces of information from the internet in hopes to answer my many questions. To me it is amazing for a man to have the respect, concern, and the heart to be so involved with his employees, it gives me goose bumps. I have never met anyone like him before and I doubt that I ever will. He is very special to me and to everyone here. I know I will lose my hair, but we have been playing with different kinds of scarfs and hats here at the facility.
I don’t have a special one yet but it will depend on my mood that day as to which one I wear. If things don’t work out, I will feel through my accomplishments of teaching our children at the Lutheran Schools about God and turning to long term care where I met all my friends, I feel that in my life I have done enough. I have confidence in God, that lets me stand strong and face every challenge he gives me. Jifi and my friends at Collinsville Rehab, thank you for your support.
The pink Christmas tree at the facility is in remembrance of all breast cancer survivors.
