June 9, 2004
Silver lining to cloudy disease
More than 250 attend Cancer Survivors Picnic on lawn of Building 50
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
The clouds cleared as the picnic started and loomed in again as it ended.
Great weather is par for the course every year for the Cancer Survivors Picnic, held Sunday afternoon on the lawn of Building 50.
"In 17 years, we've never had rain," said Donna Kelly, a retired oncology nurse from Munson Medical Center, now working on-call. "We've had clouds, we've had high winds but during these hours we've never had rain."
For the more than 250 attendees present, the sunshine heralded a time of laughter and hugs, love and friendship as the celebrated tackling the big C: cancer. Gathered under two large tents, with cottony clouds sailing overhead, framed by blue skies and green grass, they shared a meal, listened to music and released a balloon of hope into the air.
Despite the diverse stories and different paths, being surrounded by people who have shared the same battle is heartening.
"All these people went through some form of what you're going through," said Ben Fowler, of Grand Rapids and Northport. "I think everybody knows somebody who has cancer. I'm an estate lawyer and every day I deal with people who have good and bad cancer diagnoses and they can see the people who get to the other side."
Fowler found out in 1987 that he had testicular cancer, which tends to be highly curable if caught in time. In his case, however, it recurred, reducing his survival odds. He decided to have his treatments at Munson Medical Center and highly praised the team there. Eight years ago, he said, doctors declared that he would live.
"All of the care that I got in Four West was incredible, they are very caring, very expert people, all of the docs and nurses," Fowler said.
Every year, this team of doctors and nurses helps throw the survivor's picnic, whose purpose is both fun and bonding.
"It's an opportunity for cancer survivors and their families to unite with other survivors and their families to relax in a happy, fun atmosphere," said Laurie Patrick, a R.N. with Munson Medical Center. "There's a difficult challenge for everyone as they travel that journey, but ultimately here it ends up being a wonderful time for fun and laughter."
"It is good for people in the health care community to also spend this day with people in a relaxed atmosphere," she added.
Reflecting on his own journey with cancer, Fowler noted another facet of life during and after cancer that is often shared by survivors: transformation.
"Looking back, it really puts you in contact with so many parts of life and yourself that you really didn't have to look at before," Fowler said. "What I found was living with cancer was horrible because for a long time you didn't know if you were going to live or die. But it makes you realize what's important."
For Margie Ruck of Traverse City a diagnosis of lung cancer more than six years ago was a political wake up call. A heavy smoker for 36 years who grew up around smokers, the grandmother was stunned when an illness led doctors to a malignant tumor in her lung.
She had the lung removed but did not need chemotherapy or radiation. Declared cancer free after just one operation, she decided to devote her remaining days to anti-smoking campaigns.
A first time attendee at the Cancer Survivors Picnic, Ruck proudly sported her T-shirt stating she had cancer and she votes. She was also part of a group of volunteers who last month lobbied successfully for an increase in cigarette taxes to fund anti-smoking education.
"I was one of the lucky ones so I give back what I have to give, I think God kept me alive to do things," Ruck said. "I won't stop because I don't want my little granddaughter to start smoking."