AtlantiCare Spirit of Women Award Winners - 2005

Linnea Brown is the Breast Health Coordinator for AtlantiCare Women’s Health & Wellness. She has been with AtlantiCare for the past 16 years and has spent almost three years in her present capacity. Linnea’s services are offered to any woman diagnosed with a breast problem.

Linnea received an amazing five nominations! Most of these were from patients who have been touched by Linnea. The common word seen in the nominations was “compassion.” Linnea positively impacts the lives of many women in her role as Breast Health Coordinator. She is a tireless advocate and educator in the community, as well as for her patients and their families. All of Linnea’s nominations told the story of how she made patients feel that they were not alone in their fight against their disease, was with them through each procedure and was the last person they saw before surgery and the first after. She was described by one patient as “a steady beacon of hope throughout my entire journey.”

More than once it was mentioned that Linnea is the personification of what nursing should be. Her compassion, honesty and dedication are inspirational and, by virtue of her actions, she raises the bar for her peers. She consistently goes above and beyond and is always available to help anyone who needs it. One of her patients described her as “an angel who walks the earth touching and dramatically changing the lives of all her patients.”

Her commitment to her patients continues long after they are discharged from the hospital. Linnea not only facilitates the ARMC Breast Cancer Survivor Group but keeps in touch with her patients by cards and phone calls. She corresponds with a breast cancer survivor from Africa who she met through one of her patients.

Linnea is involved in many local and national breast cancer events such as The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and the RNS Mother’s Day Walk/Run. Ann Szapor, Corporate Director for AtlantiCare Women’s Health & Wellness, has been working with Linnea in her present job for the last three years. Ann states that, “In my 22 years as a nurse, many of those in a supervisory capacity, I have never seen a healthcare professional have such a profound impact on every patient she comes in contact with. I literally have stacks of cards and letters from Linnea’s patients that all reflect the same sentiments that have been expressed in her nominations.”

When asked what public figure/famous person they are reminded of, one of her patients replied, “I prefer to think of Linnea as a discoverer who is navigating uncharted territory and is making her own path.”

AtlantiCare’s Spirit of Women program recently honored our local winners at a special recognition ceremony. The AtlantiCare Spirit of Women winners are listed below. These three regional winners will now go on to become nominees for the National Awards.

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Community Winner
Mary Ann Coyle
Egg Harbor Township, NJ

The children of Mary Ann Coyle could not be more proud of their mother. They call her “miraculous” as she continues to be not just a cancer survivor but rather a “cancer victor.”

The Coyle children told the story of Christmas 1989 being a normal holiday for the family, not knowing their mother had been diagnosed with malignant breast cancer. Their parents waited until after the holidays before sharing this news with them. Right after the new year Mary Ann endured surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments that left her debilitated. She did not want her children to see her shake with pain or know how difficult it was for her to move, eat or even open her eyes. Mary Ann pulled from her inner strength and, in the last 14 years, has survived four more battles with cancer.

Mary Ann’s victories have allowed her to see her children grow up, marry and have children of their own. She continues to be an active member of the Absecon Women’s Club, a social and community help organization. She is a teacher’s aid and volunteers her time at a local business and her church.

Mary Ann felt that a perfect Mother’s Day gift would be to have her family walk with her and other cancer survivors in the RNS Mother’s Day Walk/Run in Atlantic City. Her husband, children and grandchildren all walked with her for a good cause that raises money to ensure those who need care receive it.

Mary Ann recently met with a nursing class at the University of Pennsylvania to share her survival story with them. The doctors at Penn hope that her experience will help with the care of other cancer patients. Mary Ann hopes that if she can help just one patient, through the nurses, make their care just a bit more bearable, then her mission through battling this disease will have been worth the struggle.

Mary Ann Coyle’s children want to be like her because she is their hero. They feel she is the true epitome of the “Spirit of Women.”

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Youth Winner
Danielle Mayo
Galloway, NJ

Danielle Mayo is an 18-year-old senior at Absegami High School. Danielle has taken it upon herself to make a positive impact on her peers. Danielle reached out to T.O.S.S. (Teens Offering Supportive Services) Coordinator Robyn Boniewicz in October 2003 to initiate a recruitment effort at Absegami and made arrangements for a group meeting. Her hard work provided T.O.S.S. with more potential members than any other school in Atlantic County.

Danielle is willing to do what she can to give her peers the correct medical information they need to make healthy decisions. She displays excellent listening skills that comfort those who come to her for assistance. She possesses the skills to refer her peers to appropriate community resources when they need help.

Danielle is intelligent, creative and resourceful. She is a member of Absegami’s Key Club and National Honor Society. She is a talented pianist and has a beautiful singing voice.

Robyn Boniewicz, coordinator of the T.O.S.S. program, is very impressed with the time and effort Danielle devotes to the peer education program while maintaining good grades and working a part time job. Robyn said it is always a pleasure working with a student who believes in helping others for the positive effect they will experience. Robyn stated that “when thinking of Danielle, I am reminded of Margaret Sanger. Like Margaret, Danielle is willing to do whatever she can to give her peers the correct medical information they need to make healthy decisions.”

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