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Article Category: Newsroom

How My Sister's Cancer Prepared Me For Mine

Published on March 21, 2024

Last updated 09:48 AM March 21, 2024

Two people holding hands

It is often said that we cannot define the bond of sisterhood. When that bond was tested not by distance or careers or even children but by stage IV cancer just 18 months apart, sisters Samantha McInturff and Amanda Glass, now 51 and 48 respectively, stepped up to help the other fight the biggest battle of their lives.

It was October of 2019 when Samantha McInturff's sister Amanda Glass was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, stage IV breast cancer, at the age of 44, through a routine mammogram. The cancer had metastasized to her liver, and she was placed on two different chemotherapy cocktails. Amanda had been living with Samantha and her family, who helped get her to treatments and doctor appointments. Scared they were going to lose Amanda, Samantha stood by her sister as she began her healing journey from the surgeries and the 38 rounds of daily radiation until September 2020, when she rang the bell! Today, Amanda is cancer-free.

Eighteen months to the day of Amanda's diagnosis, in March of 2021, Samantha found herself needing a colonoscopy after a positive noninvasive at-home colorectal cancer screening test from what she believed to be symptoms of hemorrhoids. At that moment, Samantha's life flashed before her eyes when her gastroenterologist told her she had colon cancer at 48 years old. She was now a stage four colorectal cancer patient with a small tumor in her lower colon and several tiny nodules on her lungs. What were the chances of two sisters finding their bond grow even stronger in the battle of their lives?

"I am thankful for my sister who walked through this before me. She was there for me when I needed her. My boys were in middle school when I was diagnosed. They weren't scared because they had watched my sister, who lived with us then, walk through her battle," Samantha shared.

Samantha had her first infusion treatment in April of 2021, and it was now Amanda's turn to stand by her sister. The treatments worked, and quarterly scans showed Samantha's nodules shrinking and disappearing. Nearly two years later, Samantha received the results the sisters had been waiting for—no evidence of residual, recurrent or metastatic disease. Samantha, too, was stable. 

The sisters have one message—get screened! According to American Cancer Society research, colon cancer cases under age 50 are on the rise, and the recommendation is to get your colonoscopy at age 45. Furthermore, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in men and the second in women under 50 years old, making the overall lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer about 1 in 23 for men and 1 in 25 for women. However, each person's risk might be higher or lower than this, depending on their risk factors.

Wellstar cares for the health and well-being of every person we serve, making a difference in thousands of lives every year—providing deeply compassionate care that takes each person’s unique life story into account and allows people to live their best lives. If you have a family history or symptoms, it is important to get screened earlier. Screening can prevent colorectal cancer by detecting and removing precancerous growths (polyps) and by detecting cancer at an early stage, allowing the treatments to be more successful. Regular adherence to screening reduces the risk of colorectal cancer incidence and death.

Wellstar is actively engaged with the American Cancer Society on several initiatives that address and support patients undergoing cancer treatments in Georgia. Visit cancer.org/getscreened to learn more.

Amanda Glass (left) and Samantha McInturff (right) 

Amanda Glass (left) and Samantha McInturff (right)

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Media Room Cancer Care Digestive Care
Breast Cancer
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Highlights

Breaking the News: Choosing Who to Tell—and When—After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Receiving the news of breast cancer can feel overwhelming. Many find themselves struggling to process their feelings while also figuring out how to share this new reality with the people they love most. 

From explaining to children and grandchildren why treatment days are difficult to deciding whether to chronicle their journey on social media, patients face uncharted territory.

Carolyn Wallace, a Wellstar oncology nurse navigator, understands these challenges and urges patients to take a deep breath before deciding how to share the news. 

“Don’t feel pressured to share your diagnosis with others within a specific timeframe,” she said. “It often takes time to come to terms with a breast cancer diagnosis. Feeling overwhelmed, frightened or sad is normal.”

The process of sharing your cancer journey takes courage, but self-compassion is key. Experts encourage patients to start by confiding in those closest to them before expanding their circle as they feel comfortable.

Finding quiet moments amid the noise of advice and opinions is crucial. 

“Your journey is unique,” Wallace said. 

Support groups can provide connections and emotional support, while family and friends often offer much-needed love and care. For those overwhelmed by the volume of communication, free websites can help streamline updates and reduce stress.

Open and honest communication is especially important when children are involved. Kids are perceptive and may sense when something is wrong. Wallace recommends explaining the diagnosis in age-appropriate ways to build trust and prevent misunderstandings. 

“Practice the conversation beforehand to ease your mind,” she said. “Reassure children that it’s OK to feel the way they do and answer their questions honestly. Let them know routines may change, but that they will still be cared for.”

Resources like age-appropriate books, camps and support groups are available to help children cope. Organizations such as Wonders & Worries, Pickles and Bright Spot Network offer free support to families preparing for these conversations.

“While breast cancer presents many challenges, open communication and leaning on loved ones can make the journey more manageable,” Wallace said. “Remember to allow yourself grace, accept support and embrace the love surrounding you.”

Learn more about breast cancer care.

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Healthcare self check-in kiosk

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CLEAR and Wellstar Health System Modernize the Patient Experience Using CLEAR1’s Digital Check-In

NEW YORK and ATLANTA, Oct. 21, 2025 – CLEAR (NYSE: YOU), the secure identity company, and Wellstar Health System (“Wellstar”), are dramatically improving the patient experience and saving hundreds of staff hours through a partnership that leverages CLEAR’s identity platform, CLEAR1. Findings from a joint case study released today highlight how health systems nationwide can use technology to make the patient experience faster and easier by reimagining one of the most visible pain points in the care journey: Patient Check In.

Despite widespread investment in digital tools, many check-ins still depend on manual lookups, paper forms, and repetitive data entry—creating friction for both patients and staff. Wellstar has been at the forefront of innovation as the first health system to launch CLEAR1 for check-in, which is integrated with Epic Welcome to enable seamless deployment. With this industry-leading solution, patients can quickly and easily check in for their appointments with a quick selfie at a kiosk or on a handheld tablet.

Since the initial launch at Avalon Health Park in May 2024, Wellstar has seen a dramatic and measurable impact on both experience and operational efficiency, with plans to expand to more than 150 locations across its system. The integration is live at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, the first hospital in the U.S. to leverage CLEAR1 for patient check-ins, and at five Wellstar outpatient facilities. Wellstar plans to roll out additional use cases with CLEAR1, including patient MyChart account creation and recovery, workforce account recovery, and online scheduling.

“CLEAR’s focus is on making everyday experiences both safer and easier, and our work with Wellstar is helping pave the way for the future of modern patient experiences," said Caryn Seidman Becker, CEO of CLEAR. “We are excited about the growth opportunities ahead and the many ways we can support health systems to improve patient and staff experiences and create a more integrated healthcare future.”

“The results of the study speak for themselves. By leveraging CLEAR1’s technology we introduced a modern, digital check-in experience that saves patients and team members time, reduces administrative costs, and streamlines the check-in process for everyone,” said Dr. Hank Capps, EVP and Chief Information and Digital Officer for Wellstar Health System and President of Catalyst by Wellstar. “Wellstar partnered with CLEAR because we are committed to investing in technologies that elevate the patient experience, alleviate the stress on staff, and reduce friction across every part of the patient journey.”

Key outcomes achieved since launching CLEAR1 for check-in include:

  • Improved Patient Experience – Digital check-in adoption increased from 2 to 10 percent, with strong engagement among patients 45 and older. 73 percent of patients who used CLEAR1’s digital check-in technology reported that they would use it again.
  • Operational Efficiency – In just six months, CLEAR1-enabled check-ins freed up more than 1,500 hours of staff time, allowing teams to focus on higher-value tasks such as assisting patients with complex problems.
  • Reduction in Duplicate Records & Cost Savings – By linking appointments to a verified identity, Wellstar has been able to uncover and resolve duplicate patient records before visits, reducing costly administrative rework and minimizing claim complications. Collectively, these improvements are projected to deliver $2 million in savings for every 25,000 patients verified through CLEAR1.

The case study is available here.

About CLEAR
CLEAR's mission is to strengthen security and create frictionless experiences. With over 33 million Members and a growing network of partners across the world, CLEAR's secure identity platform is transforming the way people live, work, and travel. Whether you are traveling, at the stadium, or on your phone, CLEAR connects you to the things that make you, you—making everyday experiences easier, more secure, and friction-free. CLEAR is committed to privacy done right. Members are always in control of their own information, and we do not sell biometric or sensitive personal data. For more information, visit clearme.com.

About Wellstar Health System
Wellstar personalizes the patient experience. We call it PeopleCare and it's only possible thanks to our 33,000 team members who provide expert compassionate care for every stage of life. PeopleCare also means we serve our communities as a non-profit health system, providing more than $1 billion annually in charity care and community programs, and operating the largest integrated trauma network in the State of Georgia. We embrace innovation and technology, nurture early-stage companies through our venture firm Catalyst by Wellstar, and train future generations of caregivers with academic institutions including the Medical College of Georgia. Wellstar honors every voice and is one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For. To learn more, visit Wellstar.org.

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Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia dedicates new lobby to pioneering Pediatric Surgeon Dr. Charles Howell

Newsroom

Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia dedicates new lobby to pioneering Pediatric Surgeon Dr. Charles Howell

AUGUSTA, Ga. (Oct. 13, 2025) – Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia officially cut the ribbon on its updated lobby Monday with a ceremony attended by donors, dignitaries from Wellstar, Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center, Augusta University and the city of Augusta.

There was also a very special guest in attendance, Dr. Charles Howell, who throughout his career has been one of Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia’s biggest advocates. From the stage, he watched, visibly touched, as a giant purple curtain fell, revealing the words “Dr. Charles G. Howell Jr Lobby” stretching across the lobby wall, greeting guests as they enter.

“I’m a little embarrassed,” Dr. Howell said as he took the podium.

He went on to say that many times over the years, patient families told him they didn’t know where to go for care, and now any patient who walks through the door of Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia will find physicians who are board-certified in many specialties.

“You get the best care without saying anything, and for that I am very proud,” he said.

The moment had been kept top-secret, even from many event organizers. Planners knew they were organizing a special recognition, but the identity and exact nature of the surprise was revealed to leaders on a need-to-know basis to avoid spoiling the surprise. Leaders who knew, agreed that this was just as it should be. After all, Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia would not exist without Dr. Howell’s steadfast advocacy.

There’s a well-known story that Dr. Howell offhandedly mentioned the need for a children’s hospital to a patient’s father—a spark that would lead to securing the necessary funding only a few years later. Dr. Howell did not know the comment was made to the chief aide to Rep. Tom Murphy, then Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives. Ten years later, the children’s hospital was a reality.

Dr. Howell was also instrumental in designing the hospital, involving children and families in the process to ensure their needs were met. Children’s Medical Center, now Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia, opened in 1998 and expanded pediatric inpatient capacity from 32 to 154 beds. Dr. Howell is one of Georgia’s greatest advocates for children’s healthcare.

As part of the celebration, Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson read a proclamation declaring Oct. 13 “Dr. Charles Howell Day,” and presented him with a plaque.

Wellstar MCG Health President Ralph Turner also thanked Dr. Howell for his dedication and service to Georgia’s children.

“When someone dedicates their lives to taking care of our children and only makes one profound statement that grows into an entire facility—and he dedicates 40 years of his life taking care of children—this, today, just feels right,” Turner said.

As a pediatric surgeon, Dr. Howell has performed more than 16,000 procedures. He graduated from Medical College of Georgia in 1973 and, following a pediatric surgery residency at a children’s hospital in Philadelphia, returned to Augusta to practice.

In addition to operating on nearly 400 children each year, Dr. Howell started a pediatric ECMO program and a pediatric trauma program. He also served as capital campaign co-chair to assist in bringing Ronald McDonald House to its current location—only steps from Wellstar Children's Hospital of Georgia.

In 2018, following his 40-year surgical career, Dr. Howell retired as surgeon-in-chief of the children's hospital and chief of the department of surgery for Wellstar MCG Health. He returned to the health system in 2019 as the head of the hospital’s physician practice group.

The lobby of Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia was the first large renovation project at the children’s hospital since it was built in 1998. The renovation includes new flooring, removal of an old fountain and updated furniture. A donor wall has also been installed to recognize the generous donors who help the hospital fulfill its mission of providing patient- and family-centered care for every family who seeks care at Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia.

Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia dedicates new lobby to pioneering Pediatric Surgeon Dr. Charles Howell
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