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after watching chunks of hair fall out in her hand.
“ My husband did it,” she said.“ We sat on the porch together, just the two of us. He can’ t even talk about it without crying.”
Following chemo, Couch underwent 30 radiation treatments in Corbin. The final weeks were the hardest.
“ By the end, my skin was melting,” she said candidly.“ I had to wear a pillow under my arm to walk. It was that painful. But I had the best care team imaginable. They treated me like family.”
She finished radiation in late summer 2022 and began hormone therapy, which she will continue for the next 10 years to prevent recurrence. Couch is now medically classified as NED— no evidence of disease.
“ That’ s their version of remission,” she said.“ I heard those words in September 2022. It’ s been over two
years now, and I thank God every day.”
Through every low point— every IV poke, every sleepless night, every moment of fear— Couch leaned on her faith. She and her husband are now pastors for their church in Middlesboro.
“ God worked through the medicine. I believe He put the right doctors in my life, at the right time, in the right place,” she said.
Today, Couch works for Baptist Health as a hospital planning analyst, where she parses data to help determine service expansions and improve care in the region.
“ It’ s full circle,” she said.“ I used to be one of the numbers in the system. Now I’ m helping make decisions that could give someone else the same second chance I got.”
For those receiving the news a cancer diagnosis, Couch advises,“ Advocate for yourself. Ask questions.
Trust your doctors, but don’ t be afraid to speak up. And above all, know that your life is worth fighting for.”
With tears in her eyes, Couch looks back on her battle with cancer with more appreciation and gratitude that she is able to be there for her family once again.“ I look at my daughters every day and thank God that I’ m still here to see them grow,” she said.
Couch noted people are often surprised to learn that such advanced, compassionate cancer care is available right here in Corbin.
“ I could’ ve gone to Lexington,” she said.“ I could’ ve gone to Knoxville. But I chose Corbin. Because this team— these doctors, these nurses, this staff— made me feel seen. Made me feel like I mattered. And they saved my life.”
Couch wears her scars from chemo and surgery— even a radiotherapy tattoo— like badges of honor.“ I’ m living proof.”
Wm. Thomas Ashbum, MD Paul A. Cooney, DO Charles V. Stargel, MD Tyler Carter, DO
ACCESS FAMILY HEALTH CENTER 315 HOSPITAL DR., BARBOURVILLE, KY 40906( 606) 546-4060
Stuart Mack, PA-C Sarah Doyle, PA-C Rachel Bargo, APRN Anita Schoolcraft, APRN
Shannon Mills, APRN Jennifer Dorriety, APRN Jill Johnson, APRN Lesley Vaughn, APRN
Kerri Wilson, APRN Rebekah Cain, APRN Raven Jordan, APRN Deanna Portwood, APRN
BARBOURVILLE FAMILY HEALTH CENTER 215 N ALLISON AVE. BARBOURVILLE, KY 40906( 606) 546-9287
Richard Carter, MD Brian Abner, PA-C Sarah Mills, PA-C Linda Dunigan, APRN
Cassie Tye Vaughn, PA-C Mary Ashbum, LMFT Susan Poff, LPCC William H. Vickers, OD
CORBIN FAMILY HEALTH CENTER 140 BRYAN BOULEVARD, CORBIN, KY 40701( 606) 523-2005
Richard Carter, MD Candice Troxell, DO Shannon Bunch, APRN Julie Monday, APRN Crystal Prewitt, APRN
Richi Gray, APRN Garrett Faulkner, PA-C Matthew Webb, PA-C Lisa Clark, LPCC