Five years ago, Jo Turner was the one leaving the hospital with surgical drains taped to her side, trying to figure out how on earth she was supposed to shower, get dressed, and just move through her day without everything tugging loose.
She never forgot that feeling. So she picked up a needle and did something about it.
Turner has now hand-sewn more than 5,500 specialized drain pouches for breast cancer patients at Piedmont Macon — little fabric slings that let women keep their surgical drains secure while they walk, shower, and get back to some version of normal life during one of the hardest stretches they’ll ever go through.
She buys most of the fabric and ribbon herself. She matches the patterns to the seasons and holidays, because if you’re going through cancer treatment, a little unexpected joy in a hospital bag can matter more than people realize.
“Jo saw a need,” said Kimberly Lewis, manager of Oncology Services at Piedmont Macon, who nominated Turner for the honor after watching her work up close. Lewis called it a simple act of kindness that’s made a world of difference for hundreds of women — most of whom Turner will never even meet.
On June 27, Piedmont Macon handed Turner its Community Hero Award.
“Through her generosity, compassion and countless hours of service, she has touched the lives of hundreds of breast cancer patients, many of whom she will never meet,” said Stephen J. Daugherty, CEO of Piedmont Macon Medical Center and Piedmont Macon North Hospital. “Her selfless commitment is making a positive difference in our community.”
Patients typically leave surgery with one to five drains that have to stay in for up to two weeks — through walking, dressing, and everyday life. Turner’s pouches don’t fix the diagnosis. They just make one small, humiliating piece of it a little more dignified.
Sometimes that’s exactly the kind of help that sticks with a person the longest.
