You Inspire The Best in Us.

With the many advances in care and treatments, today’s patients have more and more reasons to expect the best outcomes. Here are the incredible stories of our patients and their journeys. Click on a thumbnail and scroll down to view each story.

  • Hope For The Future: A Survivor Gives Back
  • A Promise of Hope for Generations to Come
  • Shared Values Guide Generous Support
  • Putting Cancer Care First
  • Joe Bibbo & Michael Branham
  • Lynne Head & Leroy Blackwell
  • Daryn & Robb Sasser, Helen Gooden
  • Personal Cancer Care Close to Home
  • Sharmeika McDuffie Cancer Journey
  • Sarah Duby & Stuart Snow
  • Sharmeika McDuffie & Robin Aiken
  • Leigh Anna Driggers & Rebekka Taylor
  • Navigating to Earlier Detection
    of Lung Cancer
  • New Option Improves Cancer Treatment
  • Placing the Patient at the Center of Lung Cancer Care
  • Audrey Gilbert
  • April Munn
  • Ginger Godfree and Johnny Echols
  • Lynn Harrelson and Willie Vereen
  • A Journey to Encourage Others
  • The Path to Remission
  • 17 Reasons Why
  • McLeod Health Cancer Center
  • McLeod Cancer Center
  • Harry Moran
  • Doctor Hazelwood
  • Grace DuBose
  • Burnadene Kelley-Newman
  • Lisa Sims
  • Roddy Huntley
  • Kimberly Hyman
  • Zenobia Perkins
  • Strength in Numbers
  • Journey from Heart Disease to Cancer: A Life Saved
  • Cancer is a Word Not a Sentence
  • Advanced Treatment for a Silent Killer
  • Jammie Muldrow
  • Sarah DuBose
  • Randy Altman
  • Mildred Welch & Temple Dyson
  • Kerstin Nemec
  • Jennifer Almers
  • Cary Andrews
  • Together We Can Endure Through HOPE
  • McLeod Cancer Physicians
  • Evening of HOPE Closing Video
  • Targeting Nerve Pain with Precision
  • The Hope Fund
  • Journey to Hope
  • John Braddy
  • Jane Blum
  • Robby Roberson
  • Leslie Denton
  • Harry Cantey
  • Conni Singletary
  • Stephanie Benjamin
  • Leon Rogers
  • Kathy Campbell
  • Carolyn Gary
  • Audrey Gilbert
  • Deborah Mackey
    Living Life to the Fullest
  • Carolyn Bellamy
    Keeping the Faith

Hope For The Future: A Survivor Gives Back

By Leslie Mikell

Peggy Skudera’s life seemed perfect in every sense – a loving family and partner, a home on the scenic South Carolina coast, and a fulfilling job. That is, until she received a devastating diagnosis of breast cancer.

The news came as a shock and left Peggy in a “deep black hole.”

“My first thoughts were, how am I going to tell my children, how am I going to tell my partner, Kevin, and why me?”

A native of Jersey Shore, Peggy relocated to Little River, South Carolina, seven years ago, after three decades in a healthcare career. Peggy bravely stepped into this new chapter of life with hope and possibility.

Peggy drove by McLeod Health Seacoast regularly, and every time, she thought to herself, ‘I will work there someday as the Volunteer Manager.

The following year, Peggy was hired at McLeod Health Seacoast. A few years later, true to her prediction, she became the Volunteer Manager. Peggy worked diligently and rapidly increased the number of volunteers at McLeod Health Seacoast from 41 to 275, greatly benefiting patients and families.

In 2024, at the age of 70, Peggy received the news that she had breast cancer.

Thankfully, she was seen quickly for an ultrasound and biopsy, and soon after, she met with a McLeod breast surgeon. She underwent a lumpectomy, six weeks of daily radiation, and started a hormone blocker.

Peggy only missed one day of work - the day she had surgery.

“I beat cancer by surrounding myself with the most positive people and because of the amazing physicians and staff who took care of me.”

Peggy’s cancer journey taught her some tough lessons about the state of cancer care in the region. With radiation only available in Myrtle Beach or Florence, Peggy had to drive long distances every day for treatment. She also noticed how others with cancer, including some of her own volunteers, faced even more difficult journeys.

This motivated Peggy to make a generous commitment to the Hope and Healing Campaign supporting the McLeod Center for Cancer Treatment and Research on the campus of McLeod Health Seacoast

“I am invested in the new Cancer Center because of my story,” Peggy explains. “I want people to understand the importance of annual mammograms and have access to early detection. Now, women can receive the excellent McLeod cancer care they need, from diagnosis to treatment, right here in Little River.”