Hospital: PAM Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Greater Indiana North
Diagnosis: Breast cancer with bilateral mastectomy, reconstruction, and lymphedema
Jacqueline Calloway was doing a breast self-exam when she noticed a lump. Her doctor promptly ordered a mammogram, and a breast cancer diagnosis was confirmed. Mrs. Calloway underwent a double mastectomy and eventual breast reconstruction, and both her surgeon and oncologist referred her to PAM Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Greater Indiana North for outpatient therapy after her surgeries.
An Air Force veteran who met her husband when they served together, Mrs. Calloway started outpatient therapy at PAM Health in May 2025 during an uncertain and scary time in her life. Her mastectomy and reconstruction surgeries were two major procedures, and she was also undergoing other cancer treatment. A mother of three – an 11-year-old son, an 8-year-old daughter, and a 7-year-old daughter – Mrs. Calloway was extremely limited in her ability to care for them and do the parenting and household tasks she took pride in. On top of that, her post-surgical precautions restricted her from lifting her arms above shoulder-height or lifting significant weight (including her kids), so she was unable to do many self-care tasks or activities of daily living. This left her feeling frustrated and discouraged, but she worked hard to come to terms with her circumstances so she could start the healing process in therapy. Mrs. Calloway – who works as a transportation manager for Amazon while undergoing treatment and therapy — didn’t know what to expect upon admission to PAM Health. “I wasn’t sure if I even needed [therapy],” she said. “I felt like my issues were so much smaller than other people around me.” But thanks to our compassionate team of experts, like Mrs. Calloway’s physical therapist Jessica Turbeville, she felt embraced and supported in her unique circumstances, which helped motivate her in therapy. As her post-surgical restrictions were lifted and the months have gone by, Mrs. Calloway has made amazing progress in regaining range of motion and strength in her arms and achieving improvement from lymphedema and other treatment-related symptoms. “It really has been a lot of good,” Mrs. Calloway said of her experience so far in outpatient therapy. She especially appreciates our team and “the positivity and love that they radiate…Some places you feel like a patient, but here I feel more like a friend. I never feel rushed or that I am on a time limit. It doesn’t feel like I am a transaction,” she said. She has particularly enjoyed PT with Jessica. “She has been wonderful. She is engaging and makes you feel at home, supported, and understood. She makes you feel comfortable,” Mrs. Calloway said. We are honored to get to walk alongside her through this journey!
