Pearl Hawver believes in the power of a positive attitude.

She also believes in the strength of preventative care, that’s why every year on her birthday she gives herself the best gift possible by making sure to get a mammogram.

That gift paid off in January 2015, when her routine mammogram discovered a lump in her in her right breast.

“My doctor said, ‘You have breast cancer.’  And I said, ‘Ok, what next?’ She said, ‘I’m waiting for you to react.’ I said, ‘You don’t call a person to tell them their mammogram was okay. So, I figured I had something.”

It’s that same direct, no-nonsense approach Pearl used to face her diagnosis of Her2+ breast cancer. She turned to the team of Dr. Farn Chan and Dr. Masoom Kandahari, Triple-Board Certified Hematology and Oncology Experts.

“The mission of our team is to implement a patient-centered environment where patients are at the core of discussion and decision making,” explains Dr. Kandahari, Medical Staff President at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, who has been treating patient in the Woodbridge area for almost 30 years.

“We often know all the cancer patients and share the responsibility in taking care of them, so patients won’t be with a completely new doctor who is not familiar with their case if one of us is not available. It also provides a unique opportunity for patients to have a second opinion in their care, without literally having to go to a separate location,” adds Dr. Chan, Chairman of the Cancer Committee and breast program leadership member of the hospital.

With Pearl’s diagnosis of HER2+ breast cancer, the doctors were able to consult with one another to determine the best course of action.

“Her2+ breast cancer tends to be more aggressive, associated with higher risk of recurrence and poorer prognosis in the absence of systemic therapy. However, prognosis has improved with the availability of Her2 targeted therapy.”

Pearl’s personalized medical plan included: six months of chemo, a lumpectomy, receiving radiation and then following up with a year of Her2 chemo. Her positive attitude helped lead the way.

“I did really well on chemo,” recalls Pearl, “I’m pretty laid back. I don’t let anything rent space in my head. I give it to God and we go from there. I don’t worry about things, I let the doctors take care of that,” says Pearl.

Pearl says part of the reason things went so well was because of the support she received from her family, especially her younger sister, Phyllis. Phyllis, also a breast cancer survivor, helped Pearl get to her assorted appointments, sat with her through chemo and provided the emotional and moral support she needed.

In the wake of Pearl’s recovery, Phyllis has even helped her channel her sewing talents to help fund breast cancer research.   

“Right now, I’m making pin cushion hats for Relay for Life,” says Pearl, “Last year, I did five tote bags and they went for $100 each!”

The 78-year-old is living her life to the fullest, spending time with her three kids, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, thanks to the team approach of Dr. Chan and Dr. Kandahari.

“Cancer is a journey and they are right there with you,” explains Pearl. “They were on top of everything and they were very good! They were considerate and kind. Plus, Sarah, the clinical nurse manager, was just wonderful during the chemo treatments.”

The multi-disciplinary team approach, in the office and within the Sentara Cancer Network, allowed Pearl to get state-of-the-art care. Sentara Healthcare is the first system in Virginia to be accredited as an Integrated Network Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer, meaning connections to a network of doctors, researchers, and groundbreaking clinical expertise. Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center was the first in the area to offer Xoft^® Radiation Therapy System for patients with early-stage breast cancer. This, coupled with the exemplary patient care of an Oncology Nurse Navigator, who guides patients and their family through the sometimes daunting experience of a cancer diagnosis, is all in an effort to improve health every day.

To schedule an appointment, call 703-523-1560 or visit Sentara.com for more information on women’s health imaging near you.

Editor's note: We're featuring the stories of some spooky hunts in our region during October. 

Perhaps one may have heard there was a duel and a death tied to Rippon Lodge Historic Site. But the story behind the legend is one of legal injustice and divides a family.

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WOODBRIDGE -- (Press Release) The Prince William Board of County Supervisors is pleased to announce Brickyard, Northern Virginia’s coworking community provider will open its second location in Neabsco Commons, Woodbridge, Virginia.  Brickyard will receive $400,000 toward office equipment and tenant improvements through a new public-private partnership agreement.  The brand new location marks the first of its kind in the County and is expected to open in summer 2019.

Recognizing the County’s robust federal contracting and defense technology sectors, as well as an emerging entrepreneurial class they have sparked, Brickyard identified the unmet need for those businesses and professionals to be physically accessible to their clients, while also providing flexibility to operate remotely. Its new Neabsco Commons location, with easy access to nearby federal installations, proximity to Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1, will provide the ideal location and venue from which small businesses and entrepreneurs can operate effectively.

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Good Morning Prince William – CASA Children’s Intervention Services is hosting a volunteer information session on Monday October 9th, 6pm at the Chinn Park library. Come learn about being an advocate for an abused or neglected child.  This is a wonderful program and you’ll hear firsthand from seasoned volunteers with the program. Please email Suzanne at: [email protected]  for more info.

·         Historic Manassas needs volunteers next Saturday October 6th to help at the Manassas Jubilee Festival.  First shift is 6:45-10am to help direct crafters to their spot.  Second shift is 9:30-1pm to help at the stage check-in and last shift is 12:30-5pm also at the stage check-in.  Please email Melissa at: [email protected] with your name and time you can volunteer.

·         Prince William County Public Works needs volunteers on Saturday October 6th at 8am for a clean-up event at the Neabsco Creek Wetlands. Equipment and beverages provided but please wear comfortable boots or shoes, dress for the weather, bring gloves and safety goggles. This is a very rewarding environmental project.  Please call (703) 499-9812 to register.

·         The Autism Society of Northern Virginia needs volunteers on Saturday October 6th for their Annual Walk & Family Festival at the PWC Fairgrounds. Please email them for all the specifics at: [email protected].

·         The Greater Washington Heart Walk needs volunteers on November 3rd on the Mall as course marshal, set-up, sponsor assistance and more.  Volunteers must be 16 yrs. or accompanied by an adult. Please register on-line at: greaterwashingtonheartwalk.org and click on detailed info for all the specifics.

·          Hurricane Florence is at the top of everyone’s mind along the east coast.  My colleagues at the Cape Fear Volunteer Center in Wilmington, NC will be managing volunteers when it is safe to proceed. If you are interested in clearing debris, serving food, transporting supplies, answering phones and mucking out basements then please register on their website: www.capefearvolunteercenter.org. PLEASE DO NOT SELF DEPLOY!  Keep the first responders safe and wait to be called.  This is going to be a very long recovery.

·         Youth for Tomorrow is looking for male mentors to share their time and talent with a young man.  This promises to be a rewarding few hours per month, providing male youth with a positive role model to emulate.  Please fill out the volunteer application at youthfortomorrow.org.

·         Prince William Conservation Alliance needs volunteers for the continuing buffer restoration on Minnieville Road on 10/ 20 from 10am-12pm.  Please RSVP to: [email protected].

·         Prince William Recycles Day on Saturday October 13th from 10am-2pm needs volunteers ages 12 and up to help with all the fun activities.  This is a great teen project! Please contact Keep Prince William Beautiful at (571) 285-3772 or via email at: [email protected] for all the latest info.

·         The Salvation Army is gearing up for their Angel Tree Program this fall.  Volunteers are needed to register families for just 2 hours a day on October 9, 10, 11 and 15th. at their Lake Ridge location.  Please contact Shawnte Brown at (703) 580-8991 to share the joy of the season.

·         The SERVE Shelter in Manassas is looking for volunteer groups to purchase, prepare and serve meals to the residents of the shelter. The dates needed are brunch on 10/6and 10/7, dinner on 10/14 and 10/28.  Gather up your favorite recipes and friends to share with the families at SERVE.  Please call Julie at (571) 748-2674 for more info.

·         Meals on Wheels needs volunteers to deliver noon meals to homebound seniors throughout the community.  These meals are delivered Monday-Friday, no weekends, holidays and during periods of inclement weather. It takes about 2 hours to do your route and certainly can pick you day.  This is a perfect job if you can flex out of work for a little extra lunch period.  Please call Melodee at (703) 792-4583 to learn more.

·         Soroptimists International of Manassas is hosting Family Night Out events at local restaurants this fall.  Visit Jukebox Diner in Manassas through Nov. 22 and The Bone in Old Town Manassas Oct. 25 – a portion of your receipt will help this organization with their scholarship fund.  It’s a great way to get out of fixing dinner and support a worthy cause!  Please email [email protected] for more information.

·         Keep Prince William Beautiful needs volunteers to help them at community fairs and festivals by manning their booth for a couple of hours each day.  You’ll receive all the training and information needed and this is a fun way to get out and meet people.  Some of the dates needed are 10/8 and 10/13.  Please call Nicole to learn more at (571) 285-3772.

·         Give the gift of literacy to local adults!  Literacy Volunteers of America-Prince William is seeking volunteer tutors.  Previous experience is not necessary.  The next Tutor Training Workshop is November 3rd, 8:45 am-4pm and November 17th, 9am-12pm.  Attendance both days is required.  Please register at (703) 670-5702 or [email protected].

·         Mark your calendars for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday October 20 in Old Town Manassas.  Volunteers are needed for set-up, refreshments, advocacy, finish line brigade and route monitoring.  You can sign up online at https://bit.ly/ALZWalkManassas or email Ben at: [email protected] to learn more.

·         The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is looking for volunteer’s age 55+ to deliver noon meals through the Meals on Wheels Program.  Shifts are just 2-3 hours and available in throughout the greater area.  RSVP members receive a mileage reimbursement and additional insurance coverage at no cost to the volunteer. 

Please call Jan at (571) 292-5307 to learn more.

If you are looking for other opportunities, please don’t forget to call my wonderful team at Volunteer Prince William.  Jan can help you with the Retired and Senior Volunteer (RSVP) opportunities at (703) 369-5292 ext. 1, Shelley can help with any individual or group projects and send you weekly updates if you’d like.  Shelley is at (703) 369-5292 ext. 2, and Bonnie can help you with opportunities available in Disaster Preparedness at (703) 369-5292 ext. 3.  Please visit our website at www.volunteerprincewilliam.org. 

Thanks so much for all you do in our community.

“I’ve seen a lot of pretty bad situations. I’ve worked explosive cases all around the world: the Embassy bombing in Africa, the Unabomber case, plane crashes in New York and Mexico. I’ve seen a lot of bad things in my 25 years as an agent, I don’t want to say I’m used to it, but that’s kind of the job I am there to do,” says FBI explosives expert, Thomas Mohnal.

Seventeen years ago when the planes hit the twin towers on September 11^th, he received orders to get to New York City as soon as possible. As Mohnal sat in traffic that morning on Interstate 395, the unthinkable happened, another plane crashed, this time into the Pentagon.

“I’m parallel with the Pentagon in stopped traffic and I watched the plane crash. I was the first one to call into FBI headquarters and notify them that a plane just hit the Pentagon,” he recalls. The series of events made the Prince William County resident the first FBI agent on the scene, as well as one of the first, first responders.

“The flames and the fire burning was tremendous. I’ve done a lot of testing with explosive and gas-enhanced explosives, but I can’t even describe to you how big the fireball was when the plane hit,” he vividly remembers. “It pretty much encompassed the majority of the Pentagon.”

For next month and a half, Mohnal spent his days working recovery and investigating the Pentagon scene.

“The jet fuel that was burning, plastics, metals, and the debris were all airborne. It was bad,” he recalls.

As the years have passed, the survivors and first responders of that day have had to deal with another challenging reminder of our nation’s tragedy. According to the World Trade Center Health Program, more than 87,000 Americans have been diagnosed with severe health conditions, including cancer, in the wake of the attacks. Thomas Mohnal is one of them.

A miracle found within a ruptured appendicitis

It started nearly two years ago. In August 2016, the now 61-year-old came to the hospital with a ruptured appendix. In the course of his care, doctors had ordered a CT scan to assess the situation. It was there Mohnal learned he was dealing with more than just appendicitis.

“Sentara’s radiologist actually noticed at the very top of the CT scan, I mean the very top! Luckily, he was able to see it. He noticed three tumors and said it was consistent with lymphoma,” explains Mohnal.

The husband and father went from requiring surgery and consulting with a General Surgeon to meeting with Dr. Farn Chan, a Triple-Board Certified Hematology and Oncology Expert and Chairman of the Cancer Committee for Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center.

“Here I’m expecting a surgery for an appendix, and I was a little worried about the rupture, but now they’re telling me, ‘You also have lymphoma.’ It was a lot, but they did it in such a way that they calmed me, saying we caught it early,” remembers Mohnal.

Personalized Medicine for fighting lymphoma

Before Mohnal knew it, he was on a regimen to attack his tumors and combat his cancer. His tumors, which ranged in size from 1 ¼ to 1 ¾ inches, didn’t respond to the first combination of drugs, that’s when Dr. Chan made the decision to change his therapy to “R-CHOP,” commonly used in the treatment of lymphoma.

“I lost all my hair. It was pretty bad, but the good thing about it was all was the nurses. Dr. Kandahari and the oncology nurse, Sarah, at Cancer & Blood Specialists of NOVA, are just perfect. They make the treatment very smooth and calming. Everyone is so professional and so knowledgeable,” says Mohnal.

Even though it wasn’t always the easiest of roads, Mohnal prides himself with never having missed a day of work while on his treatments.

“I can’t say enough good things about my care,” says Mohnal pausing, thinking about the what-ifs. “The way I’m looking at it, the radiologist who caught these tumors gave me a jump on my treatment. I never had symptoms, my physical and blood work were clear, if these tumors weren’t spotted when they were, they could have grown and spread to other organs, the treatment would’ve been a lot harsher, I can tell you that.”

Today Mohnal is feeling good. He’s living with his cancer and on a maintenance regimen which involves three-hour infusions, every eight weeks. His recent scans show one of his tumors is gone and the other two have decreased in size. 

“It’s the best news I’ve gotten in two years, I’ll tell ya that!” says Mohnal smiling. “Both Dr. Chan and Dr. Kandahari were thrilled to death. That was the best they were expecting, the results we’re getting are amazing.”

While Mohnal doesn’t know what the future holds, he doesn’t second-guess the past. When asked if he would change his actions from all those years ago, if he knew what it would mean for his health, his answer is simple.

“Never crossed my mind. I never thought about it. But once again, I was an FBI agent and that’s kind of what we do. Would I do it again? Absolutely,” he said.

September is Lymphoma Awareness Month. Lymphoma is a cancer of a part of the immune system, also called the lymphatic system. Lymphoma may develop in many parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, blood or other organs. There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). It’s estimated nearly 75,000 people are diagnosed with NHL every year. In NHL, white blood cells, called T cells or B cells, become abnormal. There are more than 61 types of NHL.

To learn more about lymphoma, visit the Lymphoma Research Foundation website lymphoma.org

Sentara Healthcare is the first system in Virginia to be accredited as an Integrated Network Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer, meaning connections to a network of doctors, researchers, and groundbreaking clinical expertise. To learn more or find the provider that’s right for you, call 1-800-Sentara or visit Sentara.com/cancer.

Buying your first home is one of the most significant investments you’ll ever make. And the money-saving skillset needed to make the purchase is developed at an early age.

The Fauquier Bank will offer a two-part seminar this Saturday, September 29, from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m., at the Manassas Park Community Center.  

One part of the seminar will be called “Homebuying 101” which will give information about loan options and lingo that prospective homeowners should know.  

The second is “Teach Children to Save,” and is geared toward children ages 3 to 8-years-old. It’s a great place for mom and dad to bring their child while they learn about home buying.

It’s the perfect place for first-time home buyers to learn the basics of getting their dream home, and educate their children about basic money matters at the same time.

Both events are free to attend. Tony’s New York Pizza, of Manassas, a local’s favorite, will provide the delicious pizza.

The duality of the event is geared to help prospective homebuyers who may want to learn these things but who would otherwise be unable to attend because of needing to watch their children.

“We wanted to come up with a way to make the event successful but also allow the opportunity for people to come and not have to worry about ‘Well, what I am going to do with the kids?’”  said Assistant Vice President – Regional Branch Manager of The Fauquier Bank Cody Florence.

This is the first time that The Fauquier Bank has planned an event geared toward children.

Florence said that the bank is looking at doing more seminar type events geared towards children and teenagers in the future. Apartment complexes and other community businesses would be an ideal place to host similar seminars, and The Fauquier Bank hopes to collaborate with them for these types of events.

The children’s portion will talk about where children get their money – an allowance, doing well in school, having a lemonade stand – the difference between wants and needs, delayed gratification, and making budgets.

Florence explained that the children would do a simulation where they work with a budget of $100 and have to buy lunch for $5 and a jacket that’s $45. With the last $50, they draw a picture of what they want and then the adult leaders will explain whether that previous $50 can cover that item or not, and then lead the children through a budget.

During a game, children will have a tree with leaves that name certain products such as a tank of fuel, and if the child guesses the right price, they can put their leaf on the tree. The winner will receive a $10 gift certificate toward a savings account at The Fauquier Bank.

These games and interactive discussions are essential for children.

Karen Huff, a second-grade teacher at George C. Round Elementary school in Manassas, said, “Kids at that age put their wants before needs. They need to find out the difference between needs and wants…. I want that video game, but I need something else.”

Students also learn about the importance of money in the classroom.

“They can understand a lot more than we give them credit for,” she said.  “I don’t think it’s too early to start. As soon as they get a dime, they need to know what to do with that dime.”

Those who want to participate should RSVP by calling 540-349-0202.

The Manassas Park Community Center is located at 99 Adams Street in Manassas Park.

This post was written by Potomac Local for The Fauquier Bank, Equal Housing Lender, Member FDIC, NMLS #462668.

Gary Caruthers is used to using his voice to inspire, motivate and encourage. Usually, it’s a message associated with the bible, but these days he’s using his gift to educate about the dangers of stroke.

Caruthers’ life changed on a Thursday morning in April.

“I got up around 8 o’clock and got a phone call. In the process of that call, my speech became slurred, and somewhere during that conversation I hung up, stood up. I knew something was off,” remembers Gary.

Brenda, Gary’s wife of 47 years, knew instantly something was wrong.

“He was staggering around. When he tried to talk, his speech was slurred. I said, ‘Gary, what’s wrong with you? And he said, ‘I don’t know. I know I’m not talking right, but I don’t know why.’ And I said, ‘I do. You’re having a stroke!’”

Brenda immediately made sure Gary was seated and safe and then proceeded to call 911.

Gary’s care started even before he arrived at the hospital. Years ago, Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center worked with Prince William County Emergency Services to develop a protocol so that potential stroke patients, like Gary, would receive care even before stepping foot inside the hospital. In a CODE STROKE, teams inside the hospital are alerted even before a patient arrives. In addition to the doctors and nurses in the Emergency Department, the alert signals to the teams in radiology (CAT scan) and a number of other departments an emergent case is imminent.

Time is of the essence when it comes to stroke. That’s why as soon as Gary arrived at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, a specially certified team of nurses, a stroke coordinator and a stroke facilitator instantly took him to get a CAT scan. It’s at that point telemedicine is incorporated for expedited care.

“We have a machine we bring into the CAT scan and the tele-neurologist can log on, wherever they are, and visualize that patient. They’re able to do an exam and speak to the patient. It’s pretty advanced,” explains Jessica Silcox, RN, MSN, Emergency Department Team Coordinator and founder of the hospital’s stroke team.

“The tele-neurologists have cameras and they can zoom in to the point they’re looking into a patient’s pupils to do an exam. That way the neurologist can determine quickly, if that patient is eligible for a clot-busting medication, or if another therapy is necessary. You lose two-million neurons a minute, so every minute literally counts in a stroke.”

It was determined Gary had a clot, but wasn’t eligible for the clot-bust medication. The decision was made Dr. Venu Vadlamudi, an Interventional Radiologist with Sentara Heart & Vascular Center, would perform a thrombectomy or clot removal.

“The faster it can be performed, the better chance a patient will have an improved outcome,” explains Dr. Vadlamudi. “The goal for the therapy, as supported by evidence in the literature, is to increase the chance a patient will be alive, functional and independent 90 days following a stroke.”

Two clots were pulled from Gary’s brain. Even though he stood up by his bedside six hours after the procedure, Gary still spent three days in Intensive Care and then several weeks in intensive outpatient rehabilitation.

“Each patient’s recovery after a stroke is variable, especially depending on the size/severity of the stroke with some patients having an immediate recovery after stroke, but many needing therapy and rehabilitation following their stroke,” says Dr. Vadlamudi.

Gary has worked hard to get back to where he was before his stroke, “After the stroke, my face was drooping. I couldn’t turn my eyes to the left. My left arm was totally paralyzed. My left leg was totally paralyzed. Plus, I had slurred speech,” he remembers. “After the thrombectomy with Dr. Vadlamudi, my face came back up, my speech came back, I could move my eyes, I had movement in my left arm and leg. It was rather miraculous!”

And, Gary isn’t ignoring this wake-up call. Since his stroke, he has changed his lifestyle- eating more chicken and fish, eliminating sugars from his diet and incorporating more exercise into his everyday life. The hard work is paying off, he has lost more than 30 pounds and is preparing to head back to the church he loves.

“The fact that my wife caught it so quickly was probably one of the contributing factors to getting swift treatment. The philosophy is time is brain and Dr. Vadlamudi said every minute counts,” says Gary.

Brenda recognized the problem and symptoms of a stroke through the acronym: F.A.S.T.  

• Face: Does one side of the face droop when smiling?
• Arm: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift down?
• Speech: Is speech slurred or strange?
• Time: If you observe any of these symptoms, call 911 IMMEDIATELY.

Dr. Vadlamudi says this acronym bears repeating and is something everyone should commit to memory, “Interventions to help with acute stroke are time-sensitive, so rapid recognition and care are critical.”

If you suspect you or someone else is having a stroke, don’t drive, call 911. To learn more about stroke and to learn your risks, visit the “Know Your Risk” quiz at SentaraStrokeAwareness.com.