Blue Water Woman--Summer 2020--Interactive

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JESSICA TOTTY12 SUMMER 2020 BLUEWATERWOMAN.COM
OPENdialogueBY PATTI SAMARAs a woman of color, Jessica Totty has moved through the world verydifferently than her Caucasian/ white counterparts.She has raised her children differently; she has had to teach themdifferent lessons about the world around them and the way they willbe perceived.Every time she walks into a store, she understands she might bewatched as a result of racial profiling.She knows that every time she meets someone, they might judge herbefore they even get to know anything about her.She knows that every encounter she has with new people will bebased on their personal perceptions and biases.She knows she will always, first, be judged by the color of her skin.Adopted CommunityA Mexican-American, Totty and her husband, Kevin, moved to theBlue Water Area 25 years ago and decided to stay and raise their family.Totty is a licensed practical nurse who has worked at Lake HuronMedical Center for the past 23 years. Her husband, who broughthis family here to open the then-new Applebee’s restaurant, is now aprogram director at the Community Foundation of St. Clair County.“How can you not love it here, what with the water and all,” she said.“Our kids, they all call Port Huron their home. And, God has openedour eyes to the opportunities available here.”The Blue Water Area has been good to them, and they havecontributed much to the community they have adopted as their home.During the Coronavirus 19 pandemic, Totty has served thecommunity as a frontline, essential worker in her role at the hospital.Pre-pandemic, Totty spent half of her work life as a medical staffassistant, auditing and compiling data. The other half of her work lifewas spent coordinating the Lake Huron Medical Center Breather’sClub, a support group that assists those with pulmonary issues. Whenthe pandemic hit, the club was disbanded, ironically, just when a virusthat is known to attack those with compromised lung capacity washitting.Totty has remained in touch with her Breather’s Club clients, and ishappy to report, to date, no illness due to COVID 19.“I thank God none of them have contracted it,” she said. “They arepracticing what I taught them, and that time and investment that theyput in has really helped them through this.”Totty now spends a part of her work day serving as in-take personnelfor people entering the hospital, signing them in, and running throughCOVID 19 procedures, such as taking temperatures.Living a Life of FaithA number of years ago, Totty and her husband both became licensedand ordained ministers. Together, they minister to a congregation inPort Huron that is diverse.Like other churches across the country, they have had to turn theirministry toward the internet, but that has gone well, she said.“God has us gearing toward this virtual church, and we’re really, reallyenjoying it,” she said. Their church, which is called #c4yourselfchurch,is not as structured as other religious services, and that is what drawspeople to their offerings.“We believe that you need to see God yourself,” she said. “There’ssuch freedom in knowing you don’t need that structure and ritual.We’ve really been walking in this freedom. We really encourage anopen, immense amount of trust, and finding God for themselves.”In light of the racial unrest that has unfolded across the country, theyhave spent more time recently discussing racial and cultural differenceswith the congregation.SUMMER 2020 BLUEWATERWOMAN.COM 13
Page 1 and 2: ANNETTE MERCATANTE, M.D.keeping us
Page 3 and 4: Wrinkles & lines not so fine?Low-co
Page 5 and 6: EDITOR/PUBLISHERPATTI SAMARFROM THE
Page 7 and 8: KEEPINGus safeBY PATTI SAMARJust li
Page 9 and 10: Crisis Within a Crisis: Mass Protes
Page 11 and 12: ESSENTIALstaffBY PATTI SAMARJJennif
Page 13: “Most of my programs stopped or w
Page 17 and 18: where George Floyd was killed, such
Page 19 and 20: STEPPINGupBY DALE HEMMILAEEarly on
Page 21 and 22: Of course all of this begs the ques
Page 23 and 24: PROTECTINGpatientsBY DALE HEMMILACh
Page 25 and 26: who will be named...Blue Water Woma
Page 27 and 28: MANAGINGemergenciesBY PATTI SAMARIf
Page 29 and 30: “We are your out-sourced Marketin

Blue Water Woman--Summer 2020--Interactive

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