San Andreas, CA…Nine months ago Barbara Galli received a grim diagnosis of Stage 4 lung cancer. Because of the swift action at the Mark Twain Cancer Center in San Andreas, she has recovered and is now back to one of her favorite past times – being an active volunteer at Mark Twain Medical Center. “I’ve helped out as a volunteer for many years because the hospital is so important to our community,” she explains. “Now it has even more meaning because the people here saved my life.”

Since 2000 when she retired from her career in banking, Barbara has devoted at least two days a week to volunteer work at the hospital. She played in active role in the Hospital Auxiliary and currently assists in the Medical Records department assisting with the transition to electronic medical records.

Barbara went to her family doctor last summer concerned about a bad cough. What she thought was sinus drainage led to pneumonia. Dr. Randy Smart quickly ordered tests, consulted with radiologist Dr. William Griffin and then referred her to Dr. Shiva Singhal, the Cancer Center director.

She says, “I was stunned when I was told I had lung cancer. I did smoke when I was younger, but I quit 40 years ago. To see all the people at the hospital and Cancer Center jump in to help me was very comforting. I already knew most of them and I knew I was in good hands. That was so important when Dr. Singhal told me I had about six months to live unless she immediately started treatment.”

“It is amazing that I was able to get such excellent cancer treatment right here at home,” Barbara continues. “I can’t say enough about the entire staff at the Cancer Center. They provide a friendly, family atmosphere for all patients. No matter how bad you might be feeling before or after treatment, they encourage you with smiles and laughter. They are the best!”

She recalls, “The first time I went for chemo treatment, I had no idea what to expect. I had driven myself there, and when I wasn’t able to drive home Kathie Grover, one of the nurses, took me herself. And every week, I got a follow-up phone call from Elaine Airola, the nurse who assists with outpatient services. I felt like I was surrounded by friends.”

The chemotherapy regimen which Dr. Singhal prescribed for Barbara involved four months with a combination of three cancer-fighting drugs. Since then, she has been taking medication in pill form.

The rigors of chemo are slowly subsiding; she removes her signature, sparkly baseball hat to reveal a new head of hair. “They’ve been calling ‘the lady in the hat’ around here for months,” she says, “and I love it.”

This is Barbara’s second battle with cancer. Some 26 years ago she had a mastectomy. “That was my 50th birthday surprise,” she jokes. “Those were the days without many options for breast cancer patients. Surgery was the solution then – it’s a whole different story now.”

Barbara and her husband Louie have been married for 58 years. They moved to San Andreas in 1977 and have always been active in community activities. They have two sons who graduated from Calaveras High School.

Jeff retired after 21 years in the Navy and fulfilled his dream of moving to Montana for a short time before the Navy called him back. For the past eight years he has been an administrator at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. Jeff is also known for his health and fitness expertise, building on knowledge acquired during his years working for EJ and Raelyn Winkler at their health food store in San Andreas.

Tim and his wife Lisa live in Rocklin and have three children. Emily will soon graduate from California State Polytechnic University; Isabella is a sophomore at Sacramento State University and Nico is a freshman in high school. Tim is a regional representative for Founders Brewing Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan. His career in the beer industry began in high school when he washed trucks for the Budweiser distributor in San Andreas.

“I’m so grateful for my friends at the Cancer Center,” Barbara adds. “They’ve given me the chance to continue watching my grandchildren reach for their dreams.”

“I thank God every day. If it wasn’t for His miracle and all of the prayers and cards that I am still receiving, I would have not gotten this far.”