Honoring Michele Johnson at Bahamas Wellness

Wonderful news this week about honoring Michele Johnson at Bahamas Wellness.

We were invited to the dedication of the Mammogram Room at Bahamas Wellness Clinic in Palmetto Point and it was a delight to see that it has been named the Michele B Johnson Mammogram Center in her honor. Many of you will already know the tower of strength that Michele is, but it is wonderful that she is honored in this way. This is the text that is written on the dedication plaque and it beautifully sums up her role in the community ……

The plaque – and what a lovely picture of Michele on it – well picked by her daughter Yasmin who obviously did know what was happening but kept it a total secret from Michele….

“Michele B. Johnson is an unapologetic yet humble serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, and lifelong advocate for accessible education and the reduction of socioeconomic disparities at large. Born in India and raised between Southeast Asia and Canada, she visited Eleuthera for the first time in 1986 and caught the eye of Dwight Johnson, a dashing island boy.

After falling in love with her island boy, she made Eleuthera her home in 1987. While raising her three Bahamian children and remaining a strong figure in the business sector, she dedicated the past 36 years of her life to Bahamian service.

She truly personifies service above self, always finding innovative ways to bridge gaps in access to education and opportunities for Bahamians.

Bahamas Wellness Health System is near and dear to her heart, and she has been instrumental in leading fundraising initiatives for the expansion of Bahamas Wellness Eleuthera Medical Center.

In 2023, she partnered with a group of Bahamas Wellness supporters who generously donated to achieve the goal of bringing the first mammogram machine to Eleuthera and Eleuthera Medical Center.

She is one of Bahamas Wellness’s strongest advocates and continues to play a pivotal role in the success of Bahamas Wellness Health System.

We are privileged to dedicate Eleuthera’s first mammogram unit in her honor.”

Michele with son Kris, and daughters Yasmin and Sidhira ……

A beautifully written tribute to her don’t you think , and so very much deserved. Michele is a key person in the community of Eleuthera and to see her publicly acknowledged for just a small part of what she does is a joy. Michele is the go to person when something needs help – she rallies people with her lovely demeanor – it does not matter what is needed – Michele is the person to ask for assistance and her list of contacts of people in the right place is second to none !

Now that is a look of surprise !

The plaque also list donors to the cause and I would like to thank all of them, but giving a special call out to Ms Shelby White of the Leon Levy Foundation who is a very generous donor to both the Bahamas Wellness Center as well as other Eleutheran organizations….

What a beauty !

Also at the event was former head of the Cancer Society here in Eleuthera Jackie Gibson. Jackie was the head of tourism on the island until she retired a year ago. She told the astonishing story that she has kept private until now. She was keen to be the first person to have a mammogram at Bahamas Wellness and indeed was , and shockingly was subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer . She opted for a double mastectomy followed by chemotherapy and is now on a drug to protect her from a reoccurance. The odds on this are so strange but truth is stranger than fiction as I often say.

Inspirational words beside the mammogram machine.

She wanted her story to be one of inspiration – which it truly is and she told it with great heart and courage. Jackie , we applaud you for your honesty and bravery…..

Jackie is pictured in the photo at the top of the blog – second from the right…..

Some of the guests – recognize anyone ??

And so dear friends of course the message is to get regular mammograms – which Jackie did – and not to be lulled into a false sense of security. I will be booking myself in when we come back from our UK trip.

Cutting the ribbon …..

But back to the lovely Michele Johnson and I ask you all to raise a glass to drink to her health and recognize the fantastic job she has done, and continues to do. Cheers to Michele ! xx

Of course there was some tasty food – courtesy of the Buccaneer !
The lovely Dr Arlington Lightbourn making a speech – he did a great job even though he says he hates speaking in public…..

18 thoughts on “Honoring Michele Johnson at Bahamas Wellness”

      1. Thank you Kathy for this comprehensive accolade about Michele who deserves hundreds of angels heralding her contributions and support to this among other efforts. It’s hard to fathom what circumstances were like in Eleuthera just 10 years ago! Really nice picture of Michele with her Family! I love the way Eleutherans acknowledge folks by naming places etc. in their honor.

  1. There’s no one more deserving of such an honor. Congratulations and thank you for all the hard work.
    We are happy that we could be a part of such an amazing project. Greg & Donna Fingar

    1. kathy@kathycolman.com

      It is a joy to be part of making things like this happen isn’t it – thank you for all that you have done…..

    1. kathy@kathycolman.com

      Totally agree and you are a brave and special woman – thank you for letting me share your story…..

  2. We are new to the Eleuthera community but had the incredible good fortune of being introduced to the amazing Michele Johnson and echo all the sentiments expressed here. Brava!!!

    1. kathy@kathycolman.com

      Well that is a wonderful start – you have met one of the most important people here ! Welcome to Eleuthera and I hope that we meet you soon as well …..

  3. Michele congratulations and many applauds for all the hard work you have done to make these dreams come true for Eleuthera . It’s an important machine for the women on the island. My wife Roanna is a two time breast cancer survivor. She went through Double mastectomy with deep flap .
    Keep up the hard work to saving lives in Eleuthera . Thank you Kathy for sharing this beautiful story ❤️

    1. kathy@kathycolman.com

      Thank you so much for this – it is so good to hear the stories of survival from breast cancer. We wish Roanna and you good health …..

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Kathy Colman

Writer, Interior Designer, Foodie, and Wife to Bob. Living in Eleuthera, Bahamas

Follow the Blog!

Recent Blog Posts

Categories

Categories

Search

Follow the Blog!