Valerie Lewis: A journey I never expected to face
Valerie Lewis, Chief Operating officer at BSI Corporate Benefits, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“I wanted to take a moment to share something deeply personal. I’ve recently been diagnosed with breast cancer- a journey I never expected to face. One thing I’ve learned through this experience is how crucial preventative care is—something we at BSI Corporate Benefits preach daily to our clients.
It’s eye-opening that most women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have an inherited gene mutation. While some cases are linked to known genetic factors like BRCA1 or BRCA2, the majority occur in women without these mutations. Many may not realize this, so let this be a reminder to be proactive about your health — even if there’s no family history.
I’m deeply thankful for the support and resources BSI provides, particularly through ConnectCare3. This incredible benefit has given me seamless access to healthcare advocacy and nurse navigation services during this challenging period. This benefit provides me with a nurse who attends each of my specialist’s appointments and scribes all notes from the appointments, helps me ask the right questions, and then provides a written summary of each appointment for my reference. It’s a powerful reminder of how BSI goes above and beyond to support us — not just as employees, but as individuals.
I’m also deeply thankful for the incredible care I’ve received from my doctors at St. Luke’s University Health Network. I’ll admit, I’m not the easiest patient — I tend to ask a lot of questions, probably more than they signed up for! But their expertise, compassion, and dedication have made an unimaginable journey feel a little more manageable, and I’m truly in the best hands.
The support from my community, BSI team, friends, and family has been amazing, and I’ve felt it was important to share my updates on my health journey with everyone. CaringBridge, a wonderful nonprofit that helps people like me stay connected with their loved ones during health journeys, has allowed me to share my thoughts and updates on test results, doctor’s appointments, etc. If you’re not familiar with it, I encourage you to check it out. It’s been a huge help in keeping everyone informed and supported.
Sharing my story isn’t easy, but I believe it’s important. If I can be an inspiration to others who may have to face this journey — reminding them they’re not alone and encouraging them to prioritize their health — then being open about my experience will have made a difference.
And speaking of sharing, if you know me, you know I love a good Mother of the Bride gown. This hospital gown? Not exactly the look I had in mind!
But if this moment helps spark a conversation about health and early detection, then it’s a gown worth sharing.
Thank you all for your continued support.”
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