The Woman Next Door is a Survivor
The woman next door is a survivor is a series of stories about incredible women in the community that have overcome a mountain of obstacles with a relentless and fearless attitude. Dr. Meadow Maze Good is an ob/gyn and urogynecologist, who specializes in pelvic floor reconstructive surgery. When she was ready for a family, Meadow and her husband needed infertility treatments.
Thankfully, Meadow was able to give birth to two healthy babies three years apart — a boy and a girl with the help of In-vitro Fertilization (IVF). When pregnant with her second child, Meadow felt a mass in her breast but was told it was normal with younger women with dense breasts. “It’s amazing how even as a physician something that was abnormal was normalized,” Meadow says.
Mammogram Screenings
When her youngest child was nine months old, Meadow got very sick and was rushed to surgery with a ruptured appendix. After she was discharged from the hospital, Meadow finally ordered a mammogram for herself. Within hours, she had a scan, report, biopsy and diagnosis: advanced breast cancer.
Meadow had a long road ahead. She underwent chemotherapy and was bald for her baby’s first birthday. After a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, Meadow developed a deadly infection and had to have her implants removed. Radiation followed, resulting in scarring and lymphedema, swelling in both arms and chest. Meadow had loved her career, but was not able to resume performing surgery.
Along her cancer journey Meadow found her new calling. She became a Certified Patient Experience Professional, and now advocates for the patients at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies as the Physician Advisor. “I love being able to bring my unique experience as both a doctor and a patient to my work,” Meadow says.
Meadow has also shared her story publicly via social media posts. Her Instagram page “Pretty Beyond Pink” focuses on inclusive fashion. Today, she doesn’t wear prosthetics and feels a sense of freedom in her new shape. “I want to help other individuals who have suffered from body trauma from breast cancer or any other experience. I want them to know that even as their bodies may be different, they can still look and feel beautiful,” Meadow says. She lives as though every day is a gift and a chance to help others advocate for themselves.
AdventHealth for Women
This month, in partnership with AdventHealth for Women, we’re recognizing some of the women in our community who are survivors of breast cancer, who have had a recurrence, or who are currently going through treatment. To us, all of these women are survivors in their own right. It is the hope of these women that by telling their stories they inspire and educate other women who are facing a breast cancer diagnosis.