I have had the privilege over the last few months of
speaking at Lions and Rotary Club lunches about cancer and the work of the
American Cancer Society. My tag team partner in these presentations has been
the lovely Jean Ann Keen, a two-time cancer survivor and mother/teacher
extraordinaire.
Jean Ann has had the misfortune to be diagnosed with two
different cancers decades apart. When she had her first cancer while pregnant
with her now 25 year-old daughter, Kylie, there were no local support resources
to speak of. Thankfully, surgery alone was curative for that cancer.
However, when Jean Ann was diagnosed with breast cancer last
year, she learned her treatment course was going to be more complicated this
time, involving both surgery and multiple cycles of chemotherapy. She felt a
bit lost and overwhelmed. Luckily, someone told her about the American Cancer
Society and the wonderful office we have in Lufkin.
In our Lions and Rotary Club presentations, Jean Ann tells a
wonderful story of driving back from Waco one night. She decided to pull out a
GPS unit for the first time, as she was unfamiliar with the dark roads and
wanted some extra assistance. She plugged it in, turned it on, input her home
address, and - lo and behold! - a map appeared with directions to her
destination! She was fascinated to be able to see ahead what was coming – every
turn, every intersection – with a voice telling her when to change course and
how long it would take to get to where she was going.
Jean Ann goes on to explain that the American Cancer Society
was like that GPS for her when it came to dealing with breast cancer. It was
unfamiliar territory, and she needed that guidance to help her see ahead what
was coming, where the intersections were, what roads to take. There were
questions that she didn’t even know to ask that she had answers to right from
the beginning.
Why am I telling her story?
Ten years ago, Louise Maxwell and I co-chaired a highly
successful campaign to raise support for a new office building for the American
Cancer Society to manage a 54-county region in East Texas. This building was
subsequently named in Louise and Harold Maxwell’s honor. Through the generous
support of the TLL Temple Foundation, Memorial Health System of East Texas, the
Polk family, the Lufkin Host Lions Club/Angelina Benefit Rodeo, Temple Inland
Foundation, and many other individual, family, and foundation donors, the ACS
regional office building was constructed. This office also houses the Susan R. Mathis
Resource Center and the Louise Maxwell Patient Service Suite, where Jean Ann
learned about hair loss, makeup, and tried on wigs through the Look Good Feel
Better program.
You see, all those contributions ten years ago are still
bearing much fruit today. Thousands of patients have benefited from these and
other services, such as patient navigation, clinical trials information, help
with finding transportation and lodging, the online Cancer Survivors Network,
and I Can Cope support groups. Whether in person at the ACS office on Gene
Samford Drive or through their 24/7 1-800-ACS-2345 phone number, the American
Cancer Society is there to help.
I want to publicly thank once again all who contributed to
the American Cancer Society ten years ago for this wonderful community
resource. But the fight isn't over! Support Relay for Life by putting together
a team, walking, or contributing in some way. Come to the Pineywoods Cattle
Barons Gala on October 25th at Winston 8 Ranch! Call 936-634-2940 for more
information about these events. And, thank you!
