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How to Protect Yourself from Skin Cancer

By Latha Shankar, Chief Medical Officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico

Summer in New Mexico means spending time outside enjoying activities that make New Mexico such a wonderful place to live. In moderation, sun exposure can be beneficial by enhancing bone health, improving sleep and easing mild depression. However, even after a short period of direct exposure, the sun’s rays can become more harmful than helpful.

Social worker takes cancer diagnosis, treatments in stride

It is never easy to hear the words: “You have cancer.”

For Dana Letts, 81, the words created an image she will never forget.

“When you're diagnosed with cancer,” described Dana, “you're suddenly thrust into a very dark tunnel, disoriented, scared and unable to see any light around you.”

Retired chef stays active after successful surgeries

With all surgeries, especially when multiple surgeries are expected, it is always best to have a clear plan of action.

For John Wilkinson, 61, a retired chef at an Albuquerque restaurant, the best course of action proved to be ‘one step at a time.’

“I was referred to Dr. Mario Leyba by my doctor,” said Wilkinson. “Dr. Leyba is a caring and compassionate physician. He had a great plan for my health.”

Future physicians learn with Lovelace General Surgery team

Lovelace Medical Group general surgeons don’t just care for patients in the hospital or clinic, they also invest in the long-term health of our community by mentoring New Mexico’s next generation of physicians.

Skydiver considers three joint replacements in one year “a miracle”

For 72-year-old Gary Faas, who worked underground for many years mining for coal and sometimes gold, there’s no better feeling than being out in the open air – especially 12,000 feet above a drop zone!

A Vietnam veteran, the Albuquerque resident is an avid skydiver with more than 400 jumps to his credit. After recovering from three joint replacement surgeries in 2022, he is looking forward to jumping again soon.

Lovelace Hospitals a Safe Haven for Infants

Safe Haven is a law aimed to protect babies younger than 90 days old. An individual may drop off an infant at a Safe Haven location, which includes hospitals, police stations and fire stations. The person surrendering the baby may disclose the biological father or mother’s name, date of birth, and any pertinent medical health information and if there is any tribal affiliation, but is not required to.

Each Lovelace hospital has a bright yellow Safe Haven Sign on the exterior of our hospitals to signify our hospitals are a Safe Haven location. 

Do you snore? Lovelace Sleep Center will help you and others sleep better

It was during a hunting trip with friends when Albuquerque resident Jeffrey Jesionowski, 69, realized that he may have a snoring problem.

“I was in Illinois with two buddies hunting white-tail deer for five days,” Jeffrey said. “We stayed overnight in a hunting camp and shared a room with bunk beds for all of us. When I woke up the next morning, I looked around and saw that my buddies were gone. I found one sleeping on the bathroom floor while the other was asleep on the living room couch.

Lovelace Sleep Center helps patients sleep well, dream again

For Michael Archuleta, getting a good night’s sleep had been a hard thing to do for many years.

A nurse practitioner with a health insurance company, the 44-year-old Albuquerque resident started developing sleep issues in his 30s.

“I was just tired all the time,” said Michael. “It got to the point where I’d be talking to people and then I would suddenly doze off. Sometimes while I was driving, I would stop at a traffic light. If it lasted long enough, I would start to fall asleep in the car!”

Lovelace general surgery team gets retiree on the path to recovery

Taos resident Dennis Salazar was just a young boy when he first rode a horse on his family’s ranch.

“My dad always had horses for us to ride,” said Dennis. “I think I got on my first horse when I was 4, maybe 5-years-old.”

Now 55, Salazar has ridden horses for many years as a member of the Taos County Sheriff’s Posse, an organization that puts on rodeos, rides in parades and sometimes helps the New Mexico State Police with search & rescue operations.

Surgery, occupational therapy helps patient give hugs to grandson

Sometimes accidents just happen.

For Ruth Ann Potter, 70, it didn’t matter whether Poncho, her big, black Labrador was to blame. What mattered most was that she had quick access to excellent medical care for her injuries.

“About three years ago my husband Doug and I were walking Poncho through our neighborhood in Rio Rancho,” Ruth Ann recalled, “when a rat ran in front of our garage door. Poncho took off and I started running and falling after him, as his leash was wrapped around my left arm.”