RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH HOPE AND HEALING

Garrett Regional Medical Center (GRMC) has much to celebrate as it approaches the first anniversary of having the WVU Medicine Cancer Institute located at the hospital. After opening its doors to patients in January of 2016, the Center has generated stories of hope and healing, continued community support, and plans for expansion.

In many areas of the world, it is customary to chime a bell at midnight to celebrate the New Year. When the bell rings at GRMC this New Year, it will be a much sweeter sound. The ringing of a bell in the cancer center indicates that a patient has completed a regimen of chemotherapy and gone into remission. A few days before Christmas, and almost a year since he started treatment, Jim Dunn stood in the WVU Cancer Institute and pulled sharply on the cord of the healing bell. The ring of the chime was met with cheers, clapping and smiles from staff that aided him through his journey.

Dunn, who was initially travelling to Morgantown for treatment, was the first patient to receive chemotherapy at the cancer center when it opened. The center being close to home and the center’s caring staff helped to make the experience of receiving treatment more bearable.

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the Center’s one year anniversary, than with the healing of a patient who has been receiving treatments here since the day we opened”, said Gina Artice, cancer patient care navigator. “The bell signifies an achievement and provides patients with hope and positivity. Overcoming an obstacle like this deserves to be recognized in a big way.”

The success of the cancer center has given GRMC the opportunity to expand its walls and services to continue to provide exemplary cancer care to the patients of the Garrett Region. GRMC has recently commissioned Gosnell Builders to coordinate the expansion project. The Center’s expansion plan includes many opportunities for GRMC to enhance the facility and to better provide for the care of the people from the region. The expansion plan includes a cosmetology area for patients to experience the Look Good, Feel Better program, a meeting room for a community support group, dedicated office space for the operation of Cindy’s Fund, a library, and a pharmacy.

The ability to expand the Cancer Center is made possible, in large part by the generosity of the local community. Generous lead gifts for this project were provided by James and Shirley Bailey; The Sharps and Gnegy Families; Richard, Ellen, Tracy and Steve Stuck; The Baxa Family Foundation; BJ Gallagher; and The WGW Community Youth Cup. “Donors like this have generated financial support that will touch the lives of many cancer patients and their families. Their generous support has created a lasting legacy to cancer care in our region that will live into perpetuity”, said Mark Boucot, president & CEO of Garrett Regional Medical Center; he continued, “I don’t know how to express my gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the center, other than to say that because of what they have done, people will be healed; and people from our community will be blessed.”

For more information, click here.

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Who I Am My name is Jay Ferguson, and I am a lifelong resident of the Deep Creek Lake area. I am also co-owner of the real estate side of Taylor Made. I have been in the real estate business for 21+ years now and I LOVE what I do! I have to say, my career really took off when I co-founded the real estate side of Taylor Made in 2014. Its been an amazing experience, building a real estate company from the ground up and achieving so much so quickly! In August 2016, we purchased Long & Foster Real Estate Deep Creek, where I had started my career in 2000. In 2018, we on-boarded virtually every agent from Coldwell Banker Deep Creek Realty as they closed up shop and the real estate family grew even more! We now have over 40 sales agents and have expanded to West Virginia and Pennsylvania, as well. Taylor Made is the #1 vacation rental company at Deep Creek with over 475 vacation rental homes, and over one hundred thousand yearly visitors. Its amazing what we have accomplished using the principles of honesty, teamwork and customer service! Personally, my wife Jessica and I enjoy traveling and especially spending time in the outdoors, hiking and exploring the many diverse areas that Garrett County is naturally blessed with. We have raised two wonderful children here, Kayleah (22) and Noah (13). In the summer, we love spending time on the water with friends & family and enjoying the lake life! We are both active in our church, our community & local school activities, and we fill our schedule with plenty of volunteer efforts. I currently serve on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity. I am proud to say that I was named Deep Creek Time’s Favorite ‘Community Champion’ in 2019. I was also named Garrett County Realtor of the Year in 2018-19, as well. I really enjoy promoting my hometown. I am very proud of the resort area that has developed over my lifetime and look forward to growing the area even more! Deep Creek Lake has been described as ‘The Lake Tahoe of the east', and I think that speaks volumes about the potential to own property here! Deep Creek Lake isn't really a town or city by itself; it's comprised of three towns: Oakland, Swanton & McHenry, Maryland. I am very passionate about my hometown and am impressed with how many people know about it as we travel around the country. Deep Creek Lake is an amazing place to visit and even better place to live! During the pandemic in 2020, our market exploded and more and more people left their primary residence in the city to live here permanently. With distance learning in schools and tele-commuting becoming the ‘norm’, many more people were drawn to the area to ‘live where they love to play’. Why You Want Me Working for You: In addition to being an owner, I am consistently one of the top-producing agents in the entire area and the Associate Broker of record for Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales. I have 21+ years of experience and I am a problem solver. There aren’t many situations that I have not encountered and I have a strategy for almost every scenario that you may encounter. I have extensively trained in all areas of real estate & emerging technologies, and also have trained as an appraiser, as well as served as a full-time Broker. I have a strong knowledge of the industry, as well as many trusted local contacts & affiliations that allow me to perform at a very high level and deliver results. I have a great deal of respect for my peers in this industry and have strong working relationships that I would love to put to work for you. Call me to discuss your situation - I know I can be of great service to you & others you care about! Honesty. Integrity. Results. View all posts by Jay Ferguson

RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH HOPE AND HEALING

Dunn, who was initially travelling to Morgantown for treatment, was the first patient to receive chemotherapy at the cancer center when it opened. The center being close to home and the center’s caring staff helped to make the experience of receiving treatment more bearable.

For more information, click here.

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