We made a surprise visit to the Dorothy G. Hoefer Comprehensive Breast Center to make a special presentation to Audrey Ann Green, a greeter at the Newport News facility.
We had a little company along for the surprise. Audrey soon recognized the familiar face.
"Is that Miss Purvis? Oh, Miss Purvis!" They locked in an emotional embrace.
Mindy Purvis has a history of breast cancer in her family. She gets regular mammograms there and following her most recent one, the staff spotted something and told her they needed a breast biopsy.
That was a terrifying day for Mindy and Audrey was there to help.
"Thank you for being with me the morning I needed someone to comfort me and you did it. Thank you."
Audrey remembers that day Mindy came to have her breast tissue tested.
"Well, when she came up and I saw that she was a little in distress," says Audrey.
And that's when Audrey broke into singing the hymn Blessed Assurance.
"This is my story, this is my song,” Audrey sang. “We held hands, we said a little prayer," says Audrey.
Her boss, Lisa Bowles was not surprised. "Because this is exactly why Audrey is where she is because this is who Audrey is. I want Audrey to be the first face people see when they walk in the center,” says Bowles.
And that's why Mindy sent NewsChannel 3 an email. She requested that we present Audrey with a People Taking Action Award.
We also handed her a $100 Visa gift card from our community partner Southern Bank. We asked Audrey how she knew to sing that song?
"I didn't, but I love my Father, my heavenly Father. And we have a lot of opportunities to minister in here. And this was the right time, this was the right time," Audrey.
