Support Relay for Life

October has been a busy month. Many businesses, communities, and cities have supported Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing pink and donating to Relay for Life.

Fergenia Hood spoke about Breast Cancer Awareness Month at last Wednesday’s Rotary Club meeting. As club members arrived, Fergenia had pink pens, bracelets and ribbons on the tables. She spoke about breast cancer awarness and encouraged club members to be there to support those with cancer. She told the story of a woman who went to the doctor and was told she had breast cancer. Hood said after she was told she had breast cancer, she didn’t hear anything else the doctor told her.

Even though we think we can deal with it alone, it is good to have support from family and friends. There are many different ways to show support. One is being available to take someone to their doctor’s appointment.

One of my younger sisters, Mary Ellen, fought stage four ovarian cancer in her early 30s. She and her family lived in Akron, Ohio, so being with her was hard. I look back now and wish I had been there for her more than I was. She took chemotherapy and it is now the ovarian cancer is in remission. But she had a scare a few years ago when caring for her son who had a neck injury while in college close to Los Angeles, California. She had gone to the doctor for a check-up before returning to Mexico City (where she and her husband are missionaries), and from a few tests, the doctor thought she had breast cancer. Mary Ellen called me and said she didn’t have anyone to go with her to the doctor to find out the results. I told her I could take off a few days and go with her. I cannot imagine how hard it would be – knowing you were to hear the results from the doctor if you have cancer.

I arrived in Los Angeles. My sister, as usual, was all smiles when she met me at the airport. This is not unusual for her because she has always tries to stay positive. We talked about the what-ifs when you are faced with breast cancer. Would you have to have a lumpectomy, partial mastectomy, or mastectomy? Would you take chemotherapy again? Finally, the day came for her doctor’s appointment. We both prayed and stayed positive because we knew it was in God’s hands, whatever the outcome. Then, the doctor came in and said she did not have breast cancer. Oh, my, what a relief. We were both so happy. I did not want to see my sister go through cancer again because I knew how hard it was for her when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

We all have a family member or know someone fighting cancer. Call today, 662- 252-0794, and donate to Relay for Life.

Halloween is Tuesday, so watch out for the little trick-ortreaters in subdivisions.