Personal touch helps TRICARE beneficiary take on cancer

Published July 25, 2011
By Mike Walbert
TriWest Healthcare Alliance

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The diagnosis sent Jerry and Kim Browning reeling: Cancer.

It was 2009 and it had been a while since Jerry Browning, a retired Service member, went to the doctor. When he did, his doctor ran several tests on him, including a biopsy.

"And the biopsy came back cancer," he said.

Soon after Jerry's diagnosis, the Brownings were contacted by Carol Ann Goodenough, a TriWest Healthcare Alliance case manager who would help them through the physically and mentally challenging battle against the disease. TriWest manages the TRICARE program for the 21-state West Region.

It started with some phone calls. Carol Ann checked in on how Jerry was doing and to see if there was anything she could do for the couple.

The relationship gradually developed into one of trust and communication, with Carol Ann guiding the Brownings on how to make informed decisions about Jerry's cancer treatments.

"She's really, really helped us," Kim Browning said.

With assistance from Carol Ann, Jerry Browning underwent surgery earlier this year to remove the cancer. Without Carol Ann's help, the Brownings said, there is no telling how things would have turned out.

"I would only have probably a year or so left," Jerry Browning said recently. "But now, I've got a future."

Watch video of Jerry and Kim Browning's story, and learn more about TriWest's "Mission to Serve" at http://www.triwest.com/missiontoserve.