When Purpose Meets Care: Turning A Calling Into Limb-Saving Work

A quiet statistic hides in plain sight across the South: diabetes is stealing mobility, dignity, and years often starting with the feet. We sat down with Dr. Hillery Dolford, a family nurse practitioner with a doctorate in nursing, to unpack how culture, diet, and inactivity can outweigh genetics, and why early action on rising A1C is the difference between management and crisis. She breaks down Type 1 versus Type 2 with uncommon clarity, then makes the case for simple, high-impact changes: water over sugary or “zero-sugar” drinks, steady movement.

The story turns personal and practical as Dr. Hillery traces her path from CNA to wound care leader and founder of Sweet Feet, a clinic focused on diabetic foot care and limb salvage. She shares results from a local study that saw zero amputations among high-risk patients during the project, highlighting how meticulous foot exams, callus control, toenail care, and swift vascular referrals prevent ulcers from becoming life altering wounds. Along the way, we hear how faith shapes the spa's warm atmosphere. Gospel music, laughter, and careful listening, so patients leave with lighter steps and renewed confidence.

We also talk purpose and entrepreneurship. Dr. Hillery’s advice for women starting a business is direct: know your why, and find mentorship that offers more than words. The right voices can pull you back to your calling when life gets loud. Her mentorship story, being called out of an interview line and sent back to nursing school with tangible support, shows how community changes trajectories. If you’re ready to rethink daily habits, protect your feet, and reconnect with purpose, this conversation delivers science, strategy, and soul. Subscribe, share with someone who needs a nudge toward water first habits, and leave a review with your top insight to keep the conversation going.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:05

Hello, everyone, and welcome to Native Drums. I'm Jocelia Williams, your host for this evening, and I have here with me our special guest because we are celebrating Women's Month on this month, the month of March. And so on Native Drums, we will be um featuring women in business, women in medicine, women in politics, women of the community. So today we have with us Dr. Hillary Dolford. And Dr. Dolphord, uh, she has a ministry as well as uh she's a doctor of nursing. Nursing. Thank you, thank you. Welcome to Native Drums, Dr. Hillary. Thank you, Jesse. Thank you for such a warm welcome. Oh, it's our pleasure, our pleasure to have you here with us today. Um, Dr. Hillary, I call her Dr. Hillary, uh, and I think everyone else does.

SPEAKER_01 0:56

Everybody does, yes, ma'am.

SPEAKER_00 0:59

Um, she is a native of Florence. She grew up here in Florence. So tell us about uh give us some background information on Dr. Hillary.

Dr. Hillary’s Path And Local Roots

Diabetes In The South: Habits And Risk

SPEAKER_01 1:06

Okay. So I am Dr. Hillary Dolphord. I am a family nurse practitioner, and I have a doctorate in nursing. Um, so my specialty is diabetic foot care and wound care. They kind of go hand in hand. But I was born and raised here, right out of North Florence, a proud Wilson graduate. Um, and so went off to the University of South Carolina um and came back and decided to decided to do all of my work here. Um the biggest thing that ties me here, of course, is Sweet Feet. Um, that's my medical spa where I provide diabetic foot care. And of course, my church, Morning Star Ministries. Um, I love worshiping there, and so that has allowed me to be in the area and here for my community.

SPEAKER_00 1:58

Oh, great, great. We're so glad that you decided to stay to remain here in um in Florence and in the PD because um diabetes is uh it has a stronghold on on some of us. And and I personally um I cash forget me for hitting on this microphone. I he says yeah. I am uh I have a personal testimony when it comes to um diabetes. I'm type two and my father had diabetes. Um his uh sister um had diabetes, had amputation. So can you can safely say that diabetes maybe runs in the is it a genetic thing or well kind of sort of um it runs in the family in the sense of we have the same family habits.

SPEAKER_01 2:57

So, you know, we eat a special diet. I don't know if it's special or non-specialized, but you know, we live in the stroke and the diabetes belt. These states in the southern region, and they say that the South, South Carolina is the buckle of that belt. Really? Oh my goodness. Meaning that we are leading in stroke and we're leading in diabetes. Now, when you ask the question about diabetes and genetics, there is a small genetic tendency for type 2 diabetes. But the habits, the behaviors, the foods that we eat, the inactivity is really what we inherit that cause us to have type 2 diabetes. Um, it occurs as we gain more weight over the years. Larger abdomen set us up for a metabolic syndrome and thus in turn cause us to have type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 vs Type 2 Explained

SPEAKER_00 3:56

Oh no, no one has ever told me that. Thank you for that info, because I have enlarged. We're growing in grace. Growing in grace, yes. Yes, growing in grace. Yeah, so as I was sitting here, I was thinking my brother has it as well, and he has he's type one. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 4:14

Now, type one is a difference. Type one is diagnosed usually as a juvenile in childhood, most type 1s. Okay. So you will have people that are insulin dependent, type 1s are insulin dependent as well. But usually people are type 2 diabetic, and then over time they no longer produce insulin and they become insulin dependent. That's a little bit different than type 1 or juvenile diabetes. Juvenile diabetes is diagnosed in childhood 5, 6. We even have some infants, um, and they believe that a virus attacked the pancreas. Okay. And so the child no longer makes any insulin. So they are insulin dependent or type 1 diabetics. Now, in theory, all type 2 diabetics will become insulin dependent over the course of the disease. Um, there's a study that shows when you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, your pancreas is at 50% of islet cells. Islet cells or islet cells, some people say it that way. Islet cells are the cells that helps the pancreas to produce insulin. They believe when you're diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you're at 50% of those cells already being gone. Oh. So eventually, the pancreas will no longer make insulin and thus make you insulin dependent.

SPEAKER_00 5:52

Well, let me ask you this. Can type 2 be reversed?

Can Type 2 Be Reversed

SPEAKER_01 5:55

It can be reversed. The book says there's no cure, um, but we as believers know that God can heal anything. But it can be reversed. If patients, when they see their A1C, glycolysated hemoglobin is the test that they do every 90 days. Right. That tells what the sugar is doing every hour of the day for 90 days. When you first start to see an elevation in the A1C, if you can get on it right then, your chances of eradicating it is the largest at that point. Um, if you can drop a few pounds, you know, change the diet, add the exercise, sugary drinks. I can't stress that enough. You know, when we eat food, if we eat a slice of pie, that food has to digest through the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, you know, and go into the bloodstream. Well, when you drink a sugary drink, there's no digestion time. So that goes straight from the stomach to the small intestine into the bloodstream almost immediately. Okay. So I I tell my diabetics, um, if they can, don't drink any sugary drinks. Try to stick to waters, unsweetened coffees and teas, things of that nature.

SPEAKER_00 7:13

Oh, what about these zero sugar sodas?

SPEAKER_01 7:17

Well, the zero sugar drinks don't spite the blood sugar when you consume it. But that sweet taste on the palate, the brain still thinks I'm having sugar. And so there is some marginal amount of insulin spike. So water is best.

SPEAKER_00 7:36

Water is best, water is best. I try to drink water as much as I can. But it's something about that zero sugar Coca-Cola. I had to stop drinking it because it seems like it's addictive.

SPEAKER_01 7:46

They are addictive. They are you because you get addicted to that sugar, you get addicted to that caffeine. So I I feel you on that. I'm not diabetic, but I've tried to give them up.

SPEAKER_00 7:57

Yeah, well, I'm trying to do the right thing. I'll put it that way. I'll put it that way.

Sugary Drinks, Diet Sodas, And A1C

SPEAKER_01 8:02

And it's a work in progress. You know, if you're intentional, small steps make things a whole lot better. You know, when you see your A1C is constantly creeping up, it's time to start making a change then. When your A1C is up, you need to make sure every 90 days your provider is checking that.

SPEAKER_00 8:21

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 8:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:22

Yes, definitely. Mine was 7.1 last time. So from eight, it went down to seven. So I thank God for that. Keep going down, going down, keep moving down. Now, um, you worked at the wound care center at one time. I did.

From CNA To Wound Care Leader

SPEAKER_01 8:39

So my story in short, I started at McLeod as a CNA. Um, I used to wait tables at IHOP when I was waiting to get into nursing school, and waited on this couple, and the lady was a director of nursing at McLeod. And when she found out I was gonna go to nursing school, she said I would hire you. Wow. So she hired me as a CNA, um, and then she allowed me to sit with patients so that I could study. She gave me the opportunity to round with the supervisor of the house, so I was able to see deaths and births and um cold blues, all of the exciting things of nursing. Well, one of the other things I got to do was to follow the wound care nurse. Okay. She needed a CNA to help position patients and fetch dressings, so I was allowed to do that. So that's where I kind of first got my start with wound care. So worked on our unit for five years. The wound care team recruited me officially, and I worked with them for several years, um, doing inpatient wound care, like bed sores, surgical wounds that wouldn't heal, et cetera. Um, went back to nurse practitioner school, and the VP found out that I was gonna advance my degree. So she made a position for me in the outpatient wound center at McLeod. God. God, the hand of the Lord. So I worked in the outpatient wound center at McLeod, and the majority of those wounds, it was bed sores and surgical wounds that wouldn't heal, but the majority was diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers. So every day I was looking at people's legs and feet and seeing a common problem. There was not a lot of foot care out there. Oh, okay. So I actually implemented like a diabetic foot clinic in the wound center. Um, so in the course of that time, I decided to work on my doctorate. I was actually in the inaugural cohort of doctoral nurses at Francis Marion. Oh, okay. And so we were challenged with um let your quality improvement project be something that helps the PD. So immediately I knew let's do diabetic limb salvage through just foot care. So um during the length of that study, that study lasted about a year. Um, all of the participants that were diabetic, poor blood circulation, prior diabetic foot ulcers, we ended up with no amputations during that study. Oh, wow. So um I knew that that was a needed work in our area. So I continued doing the diabetic foot clinic, but insurance reimbursement was poor. So they got on to me about that and was like, I'm not certain if we can continue this in the wound center. So I just kind of out of disgust said, I'm gonna open a diabetic foot song. Not even knowing what I was saying, but said that I was gonna do that, and the Lord has allowed it to come to pass.

SPEAKER_00 11:45

Isn't that something? It's really something how um different uh situations can be birthed out of whether it's negative or positive. That's true. That's true. So that could because that was uh my next question as how what inspired you motivated you to. So that was it. So that was some strong motivation, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_01 12:09

Yeah. Just seeing, you know, even now I have people come in on walkers that walk out unassisted. Oh, wow. Because the foot care makes so much of a difference in their lives. Yes. Um, I believe it's Christ's example. Christ washed the disciples' feet. And so it is an honor to sit at people's feet. You know, the feet are vulnerable. People sometimes are embarrassed of the situation that they're in. You know, they don't want people to see. A lot of times, men are like, I'm too macho to have my feet done. But, you know, I enjoy getting in there, sitting at their feet, and listening to the whole story. You know, you don't just come in for a pedicure and polish. Right. You know, we gather a history on you. I have a chart on every patient. I look at medications, and then I compare that to the patient to make sure everything is being taken care of. Um, we found cancer there. I found a malignant melanoma on a couple of patients. Um found a lot of poor blood circulation. I work closely with one of the vascular surgeons so I can call him. If somebody comes in and we don't have adequate blood flow, I call him. He sees them that day, if not the next. And you know, time is a limb when it comes to diabetes.

Building A Diabetic Foot Clinic

SPEAKER_00 13:33

Yes, yes. I tell you, um, the atmosphere, the atmosphere at Sweet Feet is like none other. Thank you so much. It is, it is. Whenever you go there, and yes, I do go to Sweet Feet. Endorsement. Uh but when you go there, it's just the is the atmosphere, it's juvial, it's happy, it's uplifting, and uh, you can just, you know, when you leave, you're if you can come in, drop, you know, all doldrum land. But when you leave, you've either had a good laugh or something uplifting has taken place. Yeah. That you're, and especially with the gospel music playing all continuously, and it's just a wonderful atmosphere, Laretta.

SPEAKER_01 14:18

So that that has been my earnest prayer. I always ask the Lord, when I extend my hand, I want them to feel your love, the love of God. And so a lady was there this week and she was like, This atmosphere is so different. And, you know, I told her, you know, I'm an avid worshiper of Christ. You know, I attend Morningstar Ministries where my pastors are Apostle and Prophetess Johnson. And all of that good teaching that they put into us as the saints, it flows over into our work everywhere we go. And that's what's so I attribute that to all of that good teaching that I've had and have experienced over the years. Wonderful.

SPEAKER_00 15:00

Well, speaking of ministry, you uh are at your church, you're uh over the women?

Founding Sweet Feet And Its Impact

SPEAKER_01 15:09

No, so my pastor's wife, Prophetess Johnson, okay, she has a dynamic women's ministry. Okay. And I'm just fortunate enough to assist her with it. Okay. So um her ministry is women of joy. Um, and the Lord has given her a vision to reach women everywhere. So every month we have a women's meeting that's beyond the wall. We go from county to county, city to city. Um, she's been in North Carolina, Heartsville, Lake City, Bishopville. But it is a ministry that's geared to uplift women. Oh, wow. Um, and the Lord even gave her the name of it name her Joy. So we are called Women of Joy, and it is a service like none other. Wow. I'm so glad to be a woman. But you know, Prophetess Johnson works in the five-fold ministry. You know, she can preach and teach, lay hands, work miracles, and so I love that.

SPEAKER_00 16:09

It sounds wonderful. It sounds wonderful. And how often you said um the women meet? Once a month. Once a month.

SPEAKER_01 16:16

Yes, it's usually the first Saturday of every month, and we're all around. Sounds about in different areas. Yep, county to county.

SPEAKER_00 16:23

So, how how can um they find out that you're in their particular area?

SPEAKER_01 16:28

So um it's on our website, um, Morningstar Ministries Darlington.org. Um, and every month it's updated where we'll be. You can even follow on the Morningstar Ministries Facebook page. I share it on my Facebook page. Um, I don't share it on Sweet Feet, but the flyers are in Sweet Feet. Okay, good. But um my page, the handle is Hillary Carter Dolfort, um, and we share little excurps, we share um little snippets of what has happened.

SPEAKER_00 17:02

Oh, okay. Yeah, I that's how I saw it on Facebook. And I saw uh Hillary has a uh a woman's ministry, so um, so I wanted to ask you about that.

SPEAKER_01 17:14

Yeah, I'm a I'm a a very strong believer and part of Women of Joy.

SPEAKER_00 17:20

Amen. That's beautiful. That's beautiful. Now let's go back to the business aspect of um what advice would you give to um a young woman who has uh idea who needs to plant a seed when it comes to developing or creating her business? Okay. What type of advice would you give?

Ministry, Atmosphere, And Patient Care

SPEAKER_01 17:46

So two things. Know your why. Know your purpose. You know, a lot of even like when they find out you're a nurse, oh, she's a nurse for the money. There is no dollar amount that they can pay for the service you provide as a nurse or a provider. So, number one, know your why. Remember, my why was I saw the need. I saw people's toenails literally growing into their toes. People in pain. Nobody to provide the care. Again, insurance reimbursement is poor to none for foot care. And because of that, a lot of providers won't do the service. Um, and so my why is I want to give people what insurance won't cover. So why? And mentorship. You need a positive voice in your ear. Um you can't look around and say, well, there's five of those types of businesses already. I shouldn't do that. That's not the reason not to do it. Who you are and what you're able to offer is the why you should do. And having that positive mentorship. I remember um when I was in nursing school and struggling, finances were poor, my husband was the only one working. I decided to drop out. So the Honda Plant, this was back in 2000. I heard that Honda Plant had come to Florence or Timminsville, and I was gonna go get me a job and help my husband out. And I was sitting there in the lobby waiting for an interview. And one of the young men from church came up to me and brought me his phone. And I said, What who's on the phone? He said, Pastor Johnson. Uh-oh. So I picked up the phone and I said, Hey, Pastor Johnson. He said, What you doing, Sister Doffer? And I said, I'm gonna get a job. It's hard. He stopped me right there. He said, The Lord has called you to be a nurse, and that's what you're gonna do. I appreciate that mentorship because I think about, I could have given up. I could have delayed the path that the Lord had for me, if not aborted it. But that positive word helped me make it, helped me to hold on. Now, a lot of people will give you positive words. Oh, you're gonna make it, you're gonna be better, but they don't always provide that support to make sure you make it. So not only did my pastor say, pursue that dream, finish nursing school, his wife stepped up and said, Here is a car for you to get back and forth to school. Oh goodness. You don't owe us a dime. All we want to see is you make it. Now, how many times have you heard of that? So mentorship and people that truly support you goes beyond anything.

SPEAKER_00 20:47

Yes, yes, yes. That's wonderful, that's wonderful. Now, you mentioned a word, a word that you um used. Abort. People, do you think people realize that they can abort or hinder what God has for them?

Women Of Joy: Uplifting Across Counties

SPEAKER_01 21:05

You can, you absolutely can. Sometimes we become so preoccupied with life and the cares of the life, the words of Christ are choked out of our hearing and our heart. And so choked out. Choked out. And that's what the scriptures say, it'll choke it out. Yes. So that's why it's so important that we, as the saints and people of God, stay in tune to the voice of God and have someone that can speak that voice of God because we can't always hear, but there are messengers that God sets up that gives us those words. So if that word hadn't come through my bishop, I know for sure I would have aborted that dream.

SPEAKER_00 21:48

So how you know one discussion leads to the other. How do you know when this is the person, this is the one that You are to listen to because sometimes people have so many different ones in their ears. So, how do you know that this is the person that I'm supposed to be?

SPEAKER_01 22:10

So, you look at what the word of God says. Okay, bitter and sweet can't come from the same fountain. Right. Number one. Number two, a tree is known by the fruit that it bears. So when you see the fruit of an individual's life and you see that advancement in their life, remember Iron Shoppers Iron. And so if you want to go higher, you have to be with those that are already elevated. So when you're able to see that, you know, yeah, this is God's voice, and this is who God is using.

Finding Updates And Community Events

SPEAKER_00 22:44

Good, good, good. Oh, this has been really awesome and enlightening, and uh we appreciate you spending time here with us. Ah, yes, such a pleasure. And uh you have such a genuine spirit, and that's vital and important in society today. There's so much um uh I don't know how to say it, the fake situation. That's true. That's true. But to know that you have that you have someone who's genuine um that can speak to life. That's it. And to know so that's correct.

SPEAKER_01 23:22

And that's that's what I want, the atmosphere in my spa. I said, Lord, let people get hear what it can't get outside in the world. And so that's why we just share the love of Christ. We laugh. Yes, you do. We drink good coffee. Yes, you do. Watch good movies, you know. That's right. We have a it's an experience. It really is an experience.

SPEAKER_00 23:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:43

And for me, it doesn't feel like work. I feel like I'm visiting friends every day.

Advice For Women Starting A Business

SPEAKER_00 23:48

Uh that's the that's the way it should be, an enjoyable situation when you when you work. And um, I often tell Hillary she needs to have a reality show. We should get cameras in there. Yes, share this with the world because uh, and you know, um that good spirit can go through that camera. Yes, it can. And bless someone, I'm sure. Yes, ma'am. Uh, thank you ever so much for coming and sharing with us again, Hillary. Yes, and your doors swing open and come back again anytime. Um, any type of situation you may have an event or what have you. Just come and talk about it, okay? Okay. I sure will. All right. Thank you so much. Oh, our pleasure. You have been um watching and uh sharing with us um Native Drums on today, and we again we thank Dr. Hillary for being here with us. Um next week or in the following weeks, we will be featuring uh women in politics, women in the community. So make sure you tune in to Native Drums. Thank you for ever viewing, and I'll see you next week.