Planned Parenthood's Together We Rise event rose to the occasion
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) – Planned Parenthood held their 'Together We Rise' event on Tuesday, Feb. 11 starting at 1 p.m. ABC 50 was in attendance to ask a few questions.
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The event started off with personal stories. One such story was from Jamie Benner-Clemons, who found a lump on her breast in 2013. She explained that she went to the gynecologist, and they said the lump was 'inconclusive' and that they didn't think there was anything wrong with her. Benner-Clemons continues, that she had a feeling that something was wrong. She later went to Planned Parenthood.
'They sent me to Rochester to a specialty clinic. They took care of all the paperwork. They took care of getting the insurance because I didn't have insurance anymore at that time,' said Benner-Clemons, about Planned Parenthood. 'The day I went to that appointment in Rochester, I found out I had stage three b aggressive breast cancer, and within a couple of weeks, I had my breasts removed. I had chemotherapy. I had radiation.,'
Benner-Clemons remarked that had Planned Parenthood not trusted her gut feeling 'I don't believe that I would be alive today. I think that I would have had stage four cancer, and I think that that is a battle that, blessed everyone fighting it, but I'm glad that because of Planned Parenthood, I didn't have to fight it.'
Kianna Diggs, another speaker who was also dealing with Breast Cancer, went to Planned Parenthood first. They did a biopsy, and everything came back ok. When she went in for a 6-month follow-up in 2023 they found a tumor. Diggs said she got a call at work at 8 in the morning telling her she had cancer.
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Diggs went in for an MRI after being diagnosed, because a mammogram can only see so much. They found a second tumor and she found out that she was five weeks pregnant. Diggs said, 'Now looking back, it all kind of makes sense with all of the hormones and everything that was out of whack.' Diggs says she went home and prayed about it not knowing what to do. She says Upstate Medical calls her and she is reassured that they are going to take care of her.
Her cancer comes in as high risk and she needs to do chemotherapy. Diggs said 'Here I am, have to have chemotherapy because my mammogram came back so high risk. So now chemotherapy and having a baby don't go together,' She continued 'So I went from pregnant termination to a mastectomy, and then, now we have to start chemo. Which chemo puts you into menopause whether you wanna be or not.'
Diggs now uses Planned Parenthood for her menopause care. Diggs commented 'I just like to come tell my story because there's such a stigma for all the wrong reasons. And sometimes, what people think are wrong reasons intertwined with good reasons and reasons that you wouldn't think you ever have to sit down and think about.'
Diggs ended by saying 'I'm just very thankful for all of you guys and the support that you give, whether you do it every day or you listen to people like me.'
Both Diggs and Benner-Clemons, when asked what Planned Parenthood meant to them answered 'Life.'
ABC 50 also had the opportunity to meet the Planned Parenthood Board members, team and members of the community.
Crystal Collette the new CEO at Planned Parenthood of the North Country New York was also in attendance. Collette had this to say about the importance of Planned Parenthood, 'We're facing federal threats like we've never seen before, but, we know that Planned Parenthood is an essential part of the health care in our community. We are deeply committed to keeping our doors open and providing a full comprehensive range of sexual and reproductive health care in our community.' She continued, 'Many people throughout Northern New York turn to us for their sexual and reproductive health care needs all throughout their life from their teen years into menopause.'
Collette also said said 'We're gonna make sure that whatever comes our way from Washington, we face it head on and stand up for our rights and access and funding, and that's what we've always done at Planned Parenthood.'
Former board member, Linda Griffin, said 'I moved to the North Country in 1973, and I was a patient with Planned Parenthood. I later worked for what was called the Canton Chapter of Planned Parenthood of Northern New York at that time briefly as a receptionist and then an educator. Sent my children in the day, when this didn't happen, off to college with their first exams at Planned Parenthood and condoms.'
Griffin remarked that her children's college friends couldn't believe their mom sent them with condoms, later remarking that it was her favorite story.
Current Chair of the Board for Planned Parenthood, Christine Mooney, said that Planned Parenthood 'can be the answer for people who think that there's nowhere else to go. And you're going to find qualified nurse practitioners and physician's assistants and physicians who truly care about your health.' She continued by saying that Planned Parenthood 'accepts everyone no matter what.'
Director of Human Resources, Corinne Barber said that 'Planned Parenthood is here for you. We offer primary care services, reproductive care services. We're here for anybody who needs care, no matter where you live, what income you have. Planned Parenthood would be there for you.'
Attendee Heather Romanek said that Planned Parenthood 'sticks up' for Women and their reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights and equal rights. She commented, 'We don't judge people, and we're very friendly.'
Planned Parenthood offers a wide range of medical services and is located at 160 Stone St. in Watertown, you can book an appointment Online HERE or you can call 315-788-8065.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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