Carrying on: Washburn woman is caring for family, helping with harvest, writing books after breast screening comes back clear

Emmy Barnick knew her family's history. She also knew her body.

In her 39 years, she experienced multiple -- what she calls “female issues” -- throughout her life, like infertility, hysterectomy at age 33, and hormone treatments.

So, as she approached her 40s, the Washburn, North Dakota, woman advocated for herself and scheduled her first mammogram.

This October, we are sharing stories of hope. Stories of advocacy. Stories like Emmy’s.

Emmy leads a busy life – she and her husband truck, farm and manage rental properties. She cares for family out of state. She is also authoring a book and an advocate for individuals struggling with infertility. Despite the demands for her time, Emmy prioritized her health.

When Emmy’s mammography results returned – doctors saw an area of concern. Something that needed more attention. They monitored it for a year before she decided it was time for a second opinion and to take a closer look.

BATTLING BACK

A breast biopsy is a medical procedure where a small sample of breast tissue is removed and examined under a microscope. This is typically done to determine whether any abnormal cells, such as cancer cells, are present in the breast.

“It's our own responsibility to be better than we were yesterday,” she said.

Despite a family history of brain, breast and ovarian cancer, Emmy’s pathology came back clear – nothing abnormal. Nevertheless, Emmy made significant diet and lifestyle changes.

“This was a wake-up call. Not everyone gets a second chance,” she said. “What are you going to do with it?”

Her answer: health advocacy.

“I don't want to be on the other end of it saying, ‘I wish I would have done something. I wish I would have scheduled an appointment when I had that gut feeling.’ So many people push this care off, right? They say ‘Oh, I don't have time. I'll go to the clinic this fall, and then it's next spring, and golfing season's coming.’ We just put off care until it's too late. We need to be our own best advocate,” she said.

Emmy emphasized the need for scheduling routine screenings like mammograms, Pap tests and colonoscopies. This care, called preventive screenings, is a perk of health insurance. The services are often available at no additional cost to BCBSND members.

Her care provider, Dr. Tara Harding, agrees.

REWARDS AND REASSURANCE

Dr. Harding is the owner of Simply You Wellness in Bismarck. She is an experienced doctorate family nurse practitioner and fertility coach with patients across the state. She supported Emmy in receiving the care she needed.

“You know your body best,” she said. “Follow your gut. If you see something, say something and find a care provider you trust. We encourage women to care for themselves the way they care for everyone else,” she said.

As she reflects on her experience, Emmy said she is also grateful for her BCBSND insurance advocate, Tonya Gieser. During Emmy’s care, she switched insurance from one company to BCBSND, causing confusion in medical billing offices. The BCBSND advocate helped her resubmit claims and push for appeals, providing significant financial relief.

“I am so grateful to Tonya,” Emmy said. “She helped me with the mammography and biopsy claims as well as a claim for genetic testing.”

Today, Emmy is carrying on. She cares for her mother, who is battling a cancer diagnosis of her own. She is also authoring a book about her infertility journey and finding joy in unexpected outcomes. The book aims to help others navigate life's challenges and find purpose in difficult situations.

Learn more: