In 2005 Elizabeth was diagnosed with stage 3a breast cancer. She used her dance skills and extensive movement experience to heal fear, pain and stiffness in her shoulder after her mastectomy. Teaching belly dance once a week during treatment helped the healing process.
While in chemotherapy, many members of the Seattle Belly Dance community threw a benefit to help offset the burden of debt acquired from inadequate health insurance. Suhaila Salimpour brought quarterly workshops to Seattle to help her full fill the hours required to keep her level 1 certification. The support of this community is a special gift she will always cherish.
WORKSHOPS FOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS
The "ABC’S” workshops use Lymph drainage exercises from the “The Lebed Method: Healthy Steps” recovery program. These exercises are added to help move lymph fluid move through the body prior to exercising, to decrease the chance of swelling due to Lymph edema. The workshops blend several amazing movement and dance forms for a low impact dance workout.
HEALTH INSURANCE NOTES
The insurance plan I was on at the time was called “Mega Life and Health.” It was inadequate to cover my breast cancer treatment needs without bankrupting me. They have apparently upgraded their practices in recent years, but it would be wise to look into the program very closely if you decide to consider considering signing up with them. They have had many complaints, similar to mine, against them in the past. Always make sure any insurance plan you are on has an out of pocket maximum.
If you already have health insurance, and are below a certain income level, you can apply for Basic Health in Washington State, as a secondary insurance plan. It is a subsidized plan and you can sign up immediately without a waiting period, even if you have a pre-existing condition. This plan saved me from certain bankruptcy. Unfortunately, the availability of this plan may have changed in the current economy.
