Dr. Brannon Claytor's Patient, National Semi-finalist
In 2009, Barbara Ford was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy in Bangor, Maine with an immediate TRAM, a method used by plastic surgeons to reconstruct a breast with a patient's own tissue.
(prHWY.com) October 18, 2012 - Portsmouth, NH -- Portsmouth, NH (OCT 18, 2012) - In 2009, Barbara Ford was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy in Bangor, Maine with an immediate TRAM, a method used by plastic surgeons to reconstruct a breast with a patient's own tissue. She then underwent a grueling 20 weeks of chemotherapy and 35 sessions of radiation. She was referred to Dr. Claytor for lipo-grafting to the TRAM and a revision to the mastectomy. Barbara recovered successfully and turned her breast reconstruction journey into a positive life-changing experience.
Highlights of her journey include foster parenting over 100 children andadoption of 5 children from the child welfare system, a Board of Director seat in an organization providing family services in Maine, administering a residential faith-based maternity home in crisis, speaker and trainer at child welfare conferences, developerof training curriculums for supporting caregiver andfoster care families and numerous public speaking engagements.
Barbara also received many awards including the North American Council on Adoptable Children's 2005 "Adoption Activist Award", receiver of The Maine Children's Alliance 2009 Giraffe "Champion for Children Award"and "Barbara Ford Day", as proclaimed by Governor John Baldacci in acknowledgement of her work in Child welfare.
Barbara Ford was traumatically affected by losing her hair during her breast cancer treatments. She saw the need to start "Wigs for Cancer Survivors" to avoid the humiliation women undergo in losing their hair. Ms. Ford's organization provides free wigs to women in need and most importantly helps them to maintain their dignity. "Losing my hair had a profound impact on me. I approached our local treatment center, Cancer Care of Maine with my vision for a wig project. They could not help. A social worker and I formed "The Image Project" to provide women facing hair loss free wigs in an environment of dignity and compassion, instead of humiliation." She states that the honor has been hers in mentoring women facing this fierce battle." Dr. Brannon Claytor counters that the honor was his in meeting this astonishing person and in helping her through her personal recovery.
Visit our website at
http://www.atlanticplasticsurg.com/ to learn about the complete range of plastic surgical procedures or call Atlantic Plastic Surgery Center at 1-800-633-6860 for additional information.
About Atlantic Plastic Surgery Center:
Atlantic Plastic Surgery Center is the practice of New Hampshire plastic surgeon, Dr. Lawrence Gray, since 1985. Dr. Gray is nationally and internationally recognized as the inventor of the scarless breast reduction, a revolutionary procedure that eliminates scars associated with the older, traditional method of breast reduction. He has a large following of satisfied patients from across New Hampshire, the United States and a number of foreign countries, who have sought him out for breast augmentation and scarless breast reduction. Dr. Gray has taught at educational conferences for the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons and is the only member of the International Society of Plastic Surgeons from New Hampshire. Dr. Mark Ballentyne is a highly skilled physician who has been Director of Medical Aesthetics at the Skin Wellness Center since 2003. Dr. Ballentyne is board-certified by the American Academy of Family Practice Physicians, is licensed to practice in New Hampshire and will be fully certified by the Board of Aesthetic Medicine in September 2011. He has established a strong reputation for his talent in administering dermal fillers, BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport injections, and Fraxel laser treatments. He is a national trainer for Allergan™. Dr. Brannon Claytor is board certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery, as well as in hand surgery. Dr. Claytor is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, offering patients a high level of skill, outstanding training and commitment to excellence in cosmetic, reconstructive and hand surgery.He completed an additional year of training in breast microsurgery, oncologic reconstruction and hand microsurgery at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and was on the teaching faculty of the Lahey Clinic Medical Center. For more details plz visit
http://www.atlanticplasticsurg.com/.
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